Broadening the field- Science awards should aim to encourage more young scientists

Source: The post is based on the article “Broadening the field- Science awards should aim to encourage more young scientists” published in “The Hindu” on 15th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

News: The article talks about the delayed announcement of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes for scientists by CSIR. It also mentions the government’s past consideration of reducing such awards and the importance of having greater diversity among the recipients.

About Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes

Origin and Prestige:

Initiated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Over 50 years old and viewed as the “Indian Nobel.”

Award Components: Cash prize, citation, and salary perks.

Eligibility: Scientists under 45 with notable contributions in various scientific fields.

Recent Announcement Delay:

Traditionally announced on CSIR’s foundation day, September 26.

Almost a year-long delay this year.

Why is there a delayed announcement of the SSB Prizes?

This Year’s Delay: The announcement took almost a year longer than usual.

Government’s Viewpoint: Ministry of Home Affairs felt there were too many science awards from various ministries, which could reduce their prestige. This led to a consideration of pruning prizes for scientists.

Proposed Change: The government contemplated introducing a singular major award, akin to a ‘Nobel Prize’.

Outcome:

No new award was announced.

The government decided to retain the SSB Prizes, but the uncertainty surrounding its future caused concern among scientists and contributed to the delay.

What should be done?

Retain the SSB Prizes: Concern arose from the idea to prune prizes. Retaining the SSB Prizes is crucial due to their significance.

Promote Diversity Among Awardees:

All 12 winners this year were male, primarily from centrally-funded institutions like IITs.

More recognition should be given to women and researchers from state universities.

Expand Award Opportunities:

Reducing awards isn’t the solution. Instead, focus on increasing opportunities to honor diverse deserving scientists.

Prioritize commitment to diversity and provide opportunities beyond privileged groups.

Clear Communication:

Address delays and uncertainties by transparently conveying the future and importance of the awards to the scientific community.