A mega-science project bound to put India on the map for cutting-edge research

Source– The post is based on the article “A mega-science project bound to put India on the map for cutting-edge research” published in “The Indian Express” on 21st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Science and Technology

News– Union Cabinet approved the full budget for the LIGO-India mega-science project. It includes the construction, commissioning and joint scientific operation of a state-of-the-art, advanced LIGO in India.

How will LIGO-India projects be beneficial for the country?

The LIGO-India Observatory will enhance global capability in the emergent field of gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics (A&A).

LIGO-India will also prompt Indian S&T in academia, national laboratories and industries to develop a range of cutting-edge technologies of national relevance.

LIGO-India will bring together researchers in fundamental and applied sciences from national research laboratories, IITs and IISERs, universities and the industry on a common platform. This will also attract talent from the large pool of Indian researchers spread worldwide.

The synergy with the quantum sensing and metrology vertical of the National Mission for Quantum Technology and Application holds high promise for India to take lead in the future of Gravitational wave detectors.

The project will galvanise India Inc to enhance capability and capacity to engineer and manufacture complex components with precision. Clearly, the commissioning of LIGO-India will enhance the reputation of Indian industry.

What are the benefits associated with mega science projects?

Mega science projects promote close collaboration between researchers from disparate areas of science and technology, and across geographies. These projects work within an organised, goal-oriented management structure.

Mega-science does not undermine individual research efforts. It enriches the overall S&T culture.

Scientifically advanced countries work to create ecosystems that connect academia, laboratories and industry on a national scale. These ecosystems have strong global links. Mega-science ventures provide ideal learning platforms to set up such model ecosystems on a manageable scale.

Mega-science projects also inculcate invaluable elements of work ethic in the scientific community. These create a collaborative ecosystem that remains open to growing by bringing in wider participation.

It also promotes culture within S&T communities to anticipate breakthroughs and appreciate new findings that may often deviate from the current comfort zone for policymakers.

What are steps taken in the country to promote mega science projects?

In India, mega-science ventures were recognized and defined as a distinct category of the scientific enterprise during the Planning Commission’s 11th plan period (2007-2012).

Such ventures require large-scale collaborative effort. It requires highly skilled human resources, significant fiscal capital and infrastructural investment and close academia-industry partnership.

It was also envisaged that the needs of most mega-science projects would span across multiple departments of the government. So, there is a need to encourage cooperative, coordination structures between partnering agencies.

In this spirit, a MoU was set up between the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to jointly fund and administer “mega-science” projects.

India is a partner in “big science” frontier international ventures, such as Large Hadron Collider Facility, ITER, Thirty Meter Telescope; and Square Kilometre Array.

In India, LIGO-India and Indian-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune and Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Ladakh are examples of mega science projects.