The social function of science and technology has, for millenia, been transformation of the lives of people.
In 1939, J D Bernal wrote an influential book The Social Function of Science. Bernal was a polymath, a Marxist and an influential thinker. To quote his biographer, Andrew Brown, Bernal held, “…scientists should not be content to pursue their intellectual vocation in isolation.” Indeed, Bernal’s view had been that the pursuit of science has continuously led to the advancement of knowledge frontiers, but applications of this knowledge also have a profound impact on the lives of humanity. It is well-accepted that applications of scientific knowledge and method have transformed human lives like never before. They continue to do so in the present times at an accelerated pace. Readers of this article will agree that the changes during our lifetimes have been beyond belief due to continuous technological progress. That the technological advancements have led to a great improvement in the quality of human life is beyond doubt.
Historically, countries under colonial occupation were denied the benefits of the technological revolution unleashed in the 18th and 19th century. However, in countries like India, where science and technology have remained the backbone of social and economic progress, significant improvement in human development has been seen post-independence. Three iconic technological demonstrations of India’s capability happened on the May 11, 1998: A series of nuclear tests at Pokhran, the testing of the Trishul missile and the successful indigenous flight, Hansa. In recognition of these demonstrations, the then Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared May 11 the National Technology Day.
Technological achievements in niche areas usually attract large public interest for a variety of reasons. Some recent events such as the landing of Chandrayan-3, which firmly put India in the league of nations with advanced space technologies, or the Surya Tilak based on simple science and engineering principles, were watched and admired by millions for different reasons. These indeed deserve to be celebrated. However, similar achievements in improving the quality of life of common people appear to be incremental and often escape public attention.
One of the primary roles of science and technology has been improving the living conditions of people. Recognising this, Niti Aayog identified 108 Aspirational Districts in the country, and has been focussing on targeted interventions in these places. The Aspirational District programme anchored at the Niti Aayog since 2018 has been transformative in improving the living conditions of millions. A successful example of the applications of science and technology in this regard has been in the Nowrangpur district of Odisha, the lowest-ranked district when the Aspirational District programme was launched. A number R&D organisations like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), joined hands in implementing S&T-based interventions in the district. These include promoting freshwater aquaculture, educating farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, diversification of crops — including essential oil, aromatic plants and tuber crops — rain-water harvesting, promotion of smokeless chulhas using biofuel, installing biomass briquettes from waste agriculture residues, and developing local entrepreneurship in food processing. These are based on jaw-dropping technologies and have led to significant improvement in the lives of the people in the district. Consequently, the district has continuously risen in the ranking of aspirational districts.
The social function of science and technology has, for millenia, been transformation of the lives of people. Many-a-time, the achievements of the underlying science, or its engineering, do not appear to be path-breaking, but the impact of these on the public is tremendous. It is this impact and the public celebration of technological achievements that motivate scientists and engineers. However, the apparent conflict in common public perception that deep science does not lead to transformation in human lives, is misplaced. To quote from a UNESCO document written more than 70 years ago: “discussion about the social impact and social function of science concentrates mostly on the material and technological aspects. This need not damage the intellectual progress of science, since even from the most material point of view fundamental research pays the largest dividends.” (‘Impact of Science on Society’, UNESCO, 1950).
The writer is former Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, Government of India and Distinguished Professor, Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University
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First uploaded on: 11-05-2024 at 13:58 IST
