SRM University, Andhra Pradesh invited Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to deliver a lecture. Prof K Hema Chandra Reddy, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Council Of Higher Education, Prof V S Rao, Vice-Chancellor, Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, faculty members, and more than 700 participants attended the lecture on “Art of Science in the Time of Virus and Beyond: The Brave New World.”
For the first time, virtual avatars were created by the students who used applications developed by them. Further, Prof D Narayana Rao commenced the programme. He informed, “DST has taken up the daunting task of making India as one of the world leaders in science and technology with several projects aimed at motivating talent to be better equipped to face future challenges”.
Hema Chandra Reddy delivered a speech on research initiatives in science and technology introduced by the Andhra govt. He informed, “Government of AP is planning to establish AP state research board to promote multidisciplinary quality research and coordination among the universities.” Further, Prof Ashutosh took the virtual podium to speak about science, technology, and innovation. Picturesquely, he explained, “Innovation pertains to visual imaginations and thinking. Knowledge becomes sustainable when invention and innovation is balanced. Invention uses resources to produce knowledge, whereas innovation deploys knowledge to generate economic resources”
Prof Sharma accentuated that COVID taught us the lesson that sustainable development can address major challenges. Urging everyone to do their individual job well, he informed that capacity of learning is the most prized possession. He said, “Capacity to adapt to change, learn new things, and lifelong learning is paramount to thrive. The convergence of multiple disciplines has an instrumental role in solving crucial problems. Our education system must have parallel structures for multidisciplinary knowledge creation and research. We should be crossing borders of knowledge and expanding the boundaries of disciplines.”