Scientific

 All persons of science may not be scientific - Pedro

 India celebrates National Science Day today. It marks the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian scientist C V Raman on 28 February 1928.For this discovery, he was awarded the Noble Prize for Physics in 1930

 A scientist is someone who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence, to make hypotheses and test them, to gain and share understanding and knowledge. In different fields, a scientist is agronomist, astronomer, botanist, chemist, geologist, ecologist, biologist, physicist, zoologist, so on and so forth.

 However all scientists are united by their relentless curiosity and systematic approach to assuaging it. The scientists in these fields ask different questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core approach to find answers that are logical and supported by evidence.

 Sadly, some who describe themselves as men of science, may not be following the scientific method. They are unable to break the conditioning of their mind and their prejudices and biases. They forget to put things to the test of critical thinking. They end up supporting pseudo-sciences and fraudmen.

 Scientific temper is about being open-minded. We must welcome new light, new knowledge, new experiments, even when their results are unfavourable to preconceived opinions and long-cherished theories. Yet, so often, so many of us succumb to information without due examination.

 Developing a scientific temper is a fundamental duty under Constitution of India. Article 51-A-h speaks about it in alignment with humanism and a spirit of inquiry and reform. What Science confirms as truth as of now, may change tomorrow with new context and insights. And it is scientific temper that will lead us to that reality.

 Keep an open & questioning mind

Scientific is Terrific, you will find!

 - Pravin K Sabnis