Page 7 - Science

STIP eyes setting up financial authority, bank for funding in key areas

The draft Science and Technology Policy 2020 proposes to establish a national STI Financing Authority and an STI Development Bank that can cater to the long term investments in select strategic areas. According to the draft, to undertake efficient governing mechanisms for the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) funding landscape, a national STI Financing Authority will be created. The centralised authority will help strengthen financial outlay. A corpus fund will also be established for investing in various long and medium-term projects, commercial ventures, start-ups, technology diffusion and licensing to address identified priority areas in the STI ecosystem, the policy states. Besides, central ministries and associated departments lacking dedicated R&D units will establish concerned divisions to augment the overall R&D budget and scope of allocation. "An STI Development Bank will be created to direct long term investments in select strategic areas," the draft ...

More women, inclusion of LGBT community focus of draft STIP 2020

At least 30 per cent representation of women in all decision making bodies and inclusion of the LGBT community into conversations related to gender equity are the major focus points of the draft Science, Technology Innovation Policy 2020. Stressing that equity and inclusion will be a foundational element of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem, the policy proposes that E&I should be added as a sub-text to all STI policies and processes (existing and upcoming), designed to create and nurture a vibrant STI ecosystem, in an inclusive manner. Emphasis under the STIP 2020 has been for women scientists. A specific highlight will remain upon promoting talented women scientists in leadership positions across research and science administration to create inspiration for women aspiring to pursue science careers, the draft policy states. "There will be also enhanced representation of women, at least 30 per cent of the total strength, in all decision making bodies including ...

Haemoglobin was 'invented' by a single gene, says research

Scientists now want to change scale and continue this work by studying when and how the different specialised cells of bilaterian vascular systems emerged

Finding cure to pushing cosmic boundaries: 2020 was no bad year for science

It was the science that came to the aid of the planet as we settled into working from home and other 'new normals' amid successive lockdowns.

China successfully launches two satellites for gravitational wave detection

China successfully launched two satellites for the detection of gravitational waves into planned orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province

Lunar Eclipse 2020: Interesting facts about today's penumbral lunar eclipse

The 'penumbral lunar eclipse', also known as Beaver moon will begin at 1pm and continue till 05:25 pm today

Science, tech institutes to now be rated based on support to female staff

Science and Technology institutes will be rated based on the support they give to female staff under the new Science Technology and Innovation Policy that aims to make the arena more inclusive

Annular Solar Eclipse 2020: How, when and where to watch the phenomenon

This time, ARIES will live telecast the solar eclipse. Those interested, can watch the eclipse on YouTube, Zoom and Facebook

Coronavirus: India part of initiative on integrating science into response

Besides the US and India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea are part of the initiative

Singing stones, living installations at Science Gallery Bengaluru's outing

Stepping in to the exhibition is a must, if for curiosity alone, for works such as Italian percussionist Ivan Macera's Diagnesis

In a big year for science, we learnt a lot more about the universe

Enough for us to hope that 2020 will bring more in the way of advances in our understanding of the universe around us

Stuck in ice, dodging polar bears, all for science

A German research icebreaker with 100 scientists and crew members has been adrift in the frozen Central Arctic since October

Mendeleev's Periodic Table

It remains an invaluable resource for classification in its 150th year

How periodic table has become menu for a world hungry for material benefits

Almost every entry on the periodic table is being put to some kind of use today

Why it is necessary to measure scientific progress sans Nobel Prize award

The notion that science is invested in by the state to secure awards for its scientists is laughable - but the idea that science should be pursued for its own sake is just pernicious

Scientific temper & political discourse

The restoration of scientific temper in society is essential for the future we want

Challenging 'accepted' theories

Theoretical constructs that were written off as impossible can exist

Massive brown dwarf discovered 750 light years away

Brown dwarfs are intermediate between planets and fully-fledged stars

Soviet's tragic genetics story shows folly of political meddling in science

Western scientists embraced genetics but Russian scientists who thought the same were sent to gulag

To avoid distortion of facts, govt mulls grading science books

The exercise would be voluntary and is aimed at making science literature more credible