The humanity has accomplished colossal progress in course of time, notably over the past two centuries consequent to industrial revolution, harnessing the splendid inventions and discoveries of science and technology in diverse frontiers. It has provided ultramodern lifestyles and brought the world to a new high of civilisation.
Technological advancements have brought about massive production of manufactured goods by overutilisation of natural resources to meet the ever-expanding material demands of the exploding population. The major sources of energy generation being the fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas, there has been unrestrained emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Further, unsustainable modes of development have brought about unforeseen detrimental consequences and degradation of environment.
Despite the advancements and economic prosperity at large, there is ample skepticism about the future of the living world. Several existential and catastrophic challenges confront the mankind that obviously makes the picture of the attained progress less rosy. The threats to human survival range from pandemics of new diseases like Covid-19, human-induced global warming and climate change, ecosystem dysfunction and loss of biodiversity, chemical pollution, human population surpassing the earth’s carrying capacity, food insecurity and nutritional deficiency, and advent of powerful, uncontrolled new technologies that may put the future generations at risk.
In this context, science and technology has to play a very significant role to counteract these challenges to the existence of the living system. So, realistic remedial measures have to be undertaken.
The distinguished guests expressed such opinion while addressing the inaugural function of the 22nd Odisha Bigyan ‘O’ Paribesh Congress held at the Ravenshaw University here organised under the joint auspices of the Orissa Environmental Society and the Ravenshaw University.
Dr Ajay Parida, Director, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, was chief guest and Prof Shuddhasattwa Basu, Director, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, was keynote speaker in the function presided over by Prof Asima Sahu, Chairperson of the PG Council of the university.
Dr Parida said the application of science and technology has to play a significant role in eradicating poverty, malnutrition, maternal and child mortality and superstition. It is imperative that scientific, administrative, and political commitment be made to address the social, economic, and gender inequalities and address environmental and technological issues. It is the moral responsibility of the developed nations to show the mindset to help the developing countries by sharing the outcomes of advanced scientific research.
Prof Basu presented a detailed account of the contribution of science and described how the enormous negative effects of human activity on environment and nature are now unfolding. As water, air and soil become more and more polluted by various sources, there is a dearth of proper environment on earth to live a healthy life. Nine out of every ten people in India are inhaling toxic air and seven out of ten are using polluted water. So, the moral duty of all, from the government to communities and individuals, is to prioritise the protection of environment to keep the society healthy.
Five senior scientists of the State, Prof Krishna Chandra Sahu, former Prof of IIT Bombay; Prof Ganapati Panda, former Deputy Director, IIT Bhubaneswar; Prof Sanjay Kumar Nayak, Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University; Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Director, Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar; and Dr Ajay Parida were felicitated for their contributions to science and technology. Dr Jayakrushna Panigrahi, convener of the Congress, delivered the welcome address and spoke on the significance of the theme of the current session.
