Indian Physics Association

Recommendation for Physics Outreach

There is an increasing and depressing trend of lack of interest in a career in science and particularly physics amongst youngsters today. To discuss this problem, the Indian Physics Association organised a meeting titled Physics Education, Basic Research & New Technologies from November 6 to 8, 2003 at BARC. We discuss some major suggestions emerging from the meeting.

The reasons for this fall in number of students enrolling for a career in Physics. These include conceptual difficulties; poor quality of teachers, lack of infrastructure etc. The recommendations given below concentrate on possible ways of making physics attractive to young students through improved education, better interactions between students and research institutions, incentive to students etc. They are neither complete nor comprehensive but the emphasis is put on those programmes which, we feel, can be implemented within the current system without recourse to large funding.

1. Improvement of student quality

1. Programmes should be created to identify and nurture talented young students.
2. Near research level projects of a few months duration should be essential for M.Sc. These may include experimental activity, data analysis, computer simulation or solving theoretical problems beyond the standard text books.
3. Giving at least one public lecture should be a part of Ph.D. requirements.
4. Lecture demonstration programmes should also be arranged for students of appropriate age groups.
5. Ph. D/ M. Sc. students from different institutions in a given local area can together and share their learning experiences and teach each other.

2) Improvement of student career opportunities

1. Students should be given at least one course in applied physics where by they may become more useful to industry immediately on completion of M.Sc.
2. Students should be given a detailed counselling on possible job opportunities beyond the standard jobs careers. This may include, both career opportunities within the state, the country and even applying to foreign universities for Ph.D. Students should also be advised on careers such as those in applied sciences and engineering, administration, science journalism, science and technology documentation etc.

3) Improvement of teaching quality

1. Each major research institution should initiate continuing education programme for teachers in their area. This may be in the form of writing review papers or original research papers. Suitable financial assistance should be given for the purpose.
2. Teachers should be invited to use the libraries of the research institutions and may even be invited to attend technical seminars in the Institution.

4) Recommendations for Research Institutions

1. Each institution should have at least one open day per year. Around this period the institutions should also hold a press conference to give the local press a flavour of the nature of work being done in the Institution.
2. Each institution must organise at least 4 public lectures per year either from within the faculty or from visiting scientists.
3. Each institution must set aside certain funds which it can use to either invite distinguished scientists to give public lectures, or to support its own faculty members creating and distributing science lectures.
4. Senior faculty members should be actively encouraged to write articles in the local press on various issues of science and technology.
5. Research institutions should be encouraged to donate usable but old machines to Universities.
6. Institutions should also create a Museum area where their activities can be highlighted and where historical or important but old instruments can be suitably displayed.

5) Recommendations for Universities

1. Each Department of Physics should create an alumni association. This will provide funding and feedback for the students as well as create an independent pressure group when required.
2. Departments must make at least some research or review work as essential for promotion.
3. Department members should be encouraged to take at least one advance course as a refresher course every few years.
4. Procedures for academic appointments and promotions should be made transparent with experts from outside the immediate circle of the university.

6) Recommendations for IPA

1. IPA should create a cell which takes report on science popularisation activities of each institution and makes it available to the IPA members so that intra institutional and inter institutional programmes can be created and improved.
2. IPA must periodically create a committee which can evaluate the career opportunities for M.Sc. and Ph.D. in physics and make its findings available to the members. This should be done in close collaboration with industries where Physics Students are likely to perform well.
3. IPA must periodically bring out an ideal recommended syllabus at B. Sc. and M.Sc. level which can be used by Universities.
4. IPA may sponsor Young Physicists Meeting once in 2 years where only young physicists can present their work. A best thesis award may also be considered.
5. A special cell to advise and assist woman scientists should be considered.
6. IPA may also invite Science Olympiad (at least physics and astronomy) to attend IPA meetings on specific technical subjects so that they get an exposure to advance science research in India.
7. IPA must periodically create committee which can evaluate the career opportunities for M. Sc. and Ph. D in physics and make its findings available to the members. This should be done in close collaboration with industries where physics students are likely to perform well. IPA can create a cell to interface with non-academic institutions to understand their needs and give feedback to academic institutions.

The year 2005 has been designated by the UNESCO as the World Year of Physics. IPA must take a lead in organising programmes on this occasion in India.