Science for Tomorrow

Dr. Prateek Kumar Jha

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering

IIT Roorkee
National Webinar on “Future of Science Technology and Innovation: Impacts on Education, Skills and Work”
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Jabalpur, National Science Day, 28th Feb-2nd Mar 2021
 From ‘baby’ science to ‘grown-up’ science
Philosophy+Science Art+Science Science+Technology

• Why are things • Why things • What should we

(we) here?
behave as they create?

do?

• What can be • How to use

known?
• What can we science to create a
create?
technology?

• Thought-driven
• Observation- • Need-driven
science driven science science
 Science and technology is driven by
our need and greed

“Infant” science

“Adult” science
 From Knowledge Creation to Knowledge Utilisation,
Individual Vision to Team Effort

Knowledge C
reation Rate

e
at
Individual Vision

R
n
And Pursuit

tio
a
Visionary

is
til
U
e
dg
le
w
no
Manpower
K

Time
Beginning
Industrial
of humanity
Revolution
Dilemma of Today’s Generation of Knowledge-Seekers

What to do when everything appears to have been done?

There’s a lot yet to be done! Every answered questions results in many new questions!

Should we utilise knowledge or create knowledge?

New knowledge do not emerge from vacuum! It builds on the existing knowledge.

Should we become the beneficiary OR the manpower OR the visionary of science?

At individual level, the beneficiary makes most money. At the collective (country) level, the
visionary makes most money. Manpower is the most needed. What matters to us the most?

Science is no longer FUN!

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Science of today is even more happening, exciting,
and FUN.
 Six Major Needs of the Present and Future

Shelter Power
Food

SURVIVAL COMFORT LUXURY

Earth and
Environment Health
Electronics

There’s plenty of scope in all these areas as the existing science/technology

is far from sufficient
Is technology a solution to the problem or the reason
behind the problem?
Is technology a solution to the problem or the reason
behind the problem?
 Science and Technology for Tomorrow

We want things to be small and light

Miniaturisation
We want to save money spent on “manpower”/we do not want people to just become
the “manpower”
Automation and Digitisation

We are growing impatient and want things quicker

Rapid Design

We cannot undo the damage done by technologies but can control (“sustain”) the
damage
Sustainable technologies
 Miniaturisation — Nanotechnology

Inheritance of existing properties

Emergence of new properties

Yadav et al, Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 25 February 2020

 Two Major Milestones in Nanotechnology

We can OBSERVE things at nanoscale

We can CALCULATE properties at nanoscale

*Google images
Automation and Digitisation — Computers in control

https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/article/22026918/where-do-digital-twins-fit-in
 Automation and Digitisation — AI and Robots

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-11/these-robots-are-learning-to-conduct-their-own-science-experiments
 Rapid Design —Example of The PROBLEM

https://microbenotes.com/in-silico-drug-designing-and-role-of-bioinformatics/
 Rapid Design —Example of The SOLUTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ntCRCgpUM
Rapid Design —Example of The SOLUTION
Sustainable Technologies
Fight Between Creator and Creation
Fight Between Creator and Creation

We can win by not killing

the demon (machine) but
by realising our

inner
powers!
 Thanks for your attention

YOU

*Images used in the presentation are taken from varied sources and may be subject to copyright