STRUCTURE IN RELATION TO THE MISSION OF SCIENCE

ACADEMIES

M. VijayanPresident

Indian National Science AcademyNew Delhi

Types of Academies and Scope of Presentation

• Professional bodies without major administrative responsibilities. E.g. The Royal Society, US National Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy

• Those with major administrative responsibilities such as managing Institutes. E.g. Russian Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

• Presentation concerned with the first category. Comments also relevant to the non-administrative component of the second category

• Activities of the Indian National Science Academy are used to highlight different issues

Organised Science in India. The Historical Context

• Indian science in ancient and medieval times• Geological Survey of India, 1851• Archeological Survey of India, 1861• Indian Meteorological Department, 1875• Botanical Survey of India, 1890• Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science,

Calcutta,1876• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 1909• Indian Science Congress Association, 1914

JC Bose, PC Ray, CV Raman, MN Saha, KS Krishnan, SN Bose

Science AcademiesEstablished in the 1930’s

• National Institute of Sciences of India, Calcutta

Moved to New Delhi in 1946 and rechristened

Indian National Science Academy (INSA)• Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (IAS)• National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad

(NASI)

Council

PresidentVice-Presidents: Fellowship Affairs International Affairs Publications/Informatics Resource Management Science & Society Science Promotion

20 Elected members

Representatives of : Asiatic Society Indian Science Congress Association National Academy of Sciences (India) Government of India

Council and General Meetings

• April, August, October, December• Office Executive Secretary • Deputy/Assistant Executive

Secretaries• Other employees• Premises: Office rooms• Auditorium• Halls and meeting rooms• Guest rooms• Informatics centre• Cafeteria• Dining Halls

Fellowship

• Fellows – Indian citizens: 754 Maximum annual intake: 30 until the total

number reaches 1000

• Foreign Fellows: 90 Maximum limit: 150

Role of Academies

• Recognition and promotion of excellence

• Science promotion

• Publications and informatics

• Promotion of international efforts and cooperation

• Interface with society, policy makers

Recognition and Promotion of Excellence

Sectional Committees I. Mathematical Sciences

II. Physics III. Chemical Sciences IV. Engineering and Technology V. Earth Sciences VI. Plant Sciences VII. Animal Sciences VIII. Medical Sciences IX. Biochemistry and Biophysics X. Agricultural Sciences

M. MultidisciplinaryNine members each including a Convener

Recognition and Promotion of Excellence

• Election of Fellows• INSA Medals for Young Scientists (30)• Academy Awards

International 2

General 12

Subjectwise 44

Three year periodicity

Recognition and Promotion of ExcellenceIssues, Concerns

• Primacy for work done in the country• Consideration of connections of foreign Fellows with

the country• General issues of evaluation• Assignment to Sectional Committees• Age profile• Gender balance• Representation of Universities• Regional and state-wise distribution

Science Promotion

• Research Professorships

• Senior Scientist Scheme/Honorary Scientist Scheme

• Research Support for Young Scientist Medal Awardees

• Visiting Scientist Programme

• Support for scientific meetings

Publications and Informatics

• Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy

• Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics

• Indian Journal of History of Science

• Special Reports, Monographs

• Dissemination of Information

History of Science Indian National Commission for History of Science

• Research projects

• Collection of information/manuscripts

• Seminars, symposia, workshop

• Indian Journal of History of Science

International Programmes

• Adherence to ICSU-National Committees

• IAP & IAC, TWAS, TWNSO, FASAS• G8+5• Exchange programmes• Joint lecture series• Centre for Cooperation in Science &

Technology among Developing Societies (CCSTDS)

Interface with Society, Policy Makers

• Outreach programmes, popularisation• Meetings and reports and specific issues

e.g. Science Career for Indian Women

Animal Experimentation

Natural Disasters

• Education Panel• Science Policy Study Cell• Electronic hub on Science Information• Archive

Academy as a Lodestar

• Role as a guide, initiator and source of inspiration

• Emphasis on excellence• Promotion of values and understanding• Freedom from government, business

and other interest groups• Role as a moral force• Promotion of scientific approach and

scientific pursuit as a way of life