WEEKEND DIALOGUE: Pradeep Srivastava

Institute for scientoons should be set up in rural areas
He is a scientist who is known for his cartoons. With his cartoons, he promises you a joyride into the complex world of science and understanding scientific principles and phenomena becomes fun. Acclaimed by the American Chemical Society, World Health Organisation, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (France) and even by the Royal Swedish Academy and Swedish National Committee on Science and Technology (the same which awards Nobel prize in chemistry), he is riding high on his success as higher education institutes are coming forward to include the scientoons in their syllabi. Known as the father of scientoons and Assistant Director of Chemical Technology Division at Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, PRADEEP SRIVASTAVA talks to our correspondent about his mission to simplify science through cartoons.
Asit Srivastava
Lucknow, February 22: A scientist sketching cartoons sounds apocryphal. What prompted you into this?
Science at times gets boring. Though the research work of a scientist may be of great importance to humanity, the general public takes no interest in understanding it. Complex theories, principles and lectures packed with scientific jargon tend to drive people away from science. Taking this into account, I felt the need to bridge the gap effectively and cartoons seemed the most viable option as they are enjoyed by all of us. My science based cartoons or scientoons not only makes one smile and laugh but also provides information about new researches, subjects and concepts in a simple, understandable and interesting way.

Are there any special areas of science covered by your scientoons?
Although I try to touch every domain of science and technology, the main area covered by my scientoons pertain to genetics, antioxidants and preservation of traditional knowledge. Besides, my scientoons also focus on environmental issues.

Your cartoons have been accepted internationally now. Did you ever think that your cartoons would gain such a worldwide acceptance?
No. Even today, I get surprised to see the enormous response from all across the globe with invitations to give scientoon presentations in different countries. I first adopted scientoons in 1988 while giving my first lecture at the National University of Singapore. At that time, I was apprehensive about making a presentation through cartoons. But my attempt was lauded by the international scientists and since then, I decided to develop a new branch of science- Scientoon.

Your scientoon has been included in the course curriculum of some of the universities including the B.Ed course at Lucknow University? Do you think it should be included in primary school education also?
It was heartening to know that my cartoons have become a part of higher education syllabi. But my aim of simplifying science and generating interest in the subject can be achieved more easily, if we teach scientoons at primary level. At present, students are unaware of the importance and avenues of science and are leaving the stream. If my toons become a part of their syllabi, it will help inculcate a scientific temper among students and this in turn would make science popular among students.

Tell us something about your scientoon published by international bodies?
World Health Organistion has appreciated my scientoons for AIDS education and awareness. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has published reports on scientoons for raising environmental concern. Royal Swedish Academy and Swedish National Committee on Science and Technology invited me to present paper on scientoons in the 32nd International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Congress held at Stockholm, Sweden.

Do you think scientoons have earned more popularity abroad than in India?
Earlier it was so. But at present scientoons are equally popular in India as any other country. In a meeting headed by our director Dr C M Gupta, all the directors of CSIR labs of Lucknow were asked to provide research and development (R&D) information about their respective institutes. This has helped me to come up with more scientoons which have made it popular. Moreover, now scientist fraternity in India and abroad are approaching me with novel ideas of making cartoons.

Are you planning to make your scientoons more interactive?
Yes, definitely. At present, my cartoons explain science in English language only. This language barrier comes up as a problem in the mission to simplify science. Keeping this in mind, I am now looking forward to develop local language version of my scientoons. It will be in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and other prominent languages spoken in our country. This will widen the horizon of scientoons taking it to every nook and corner of our country.

What are your suggestions for promoting this new mode of science communication?
Institutes for scientoons should be set up, preferably in rural areas. This will not only make science popular but also would help in dispelling myths prevailing in the villages. Moreover, promotion of scientoons rests on the shoulders of our scientists working in different fields. Science has now become inter-disciplinary and all scientists, irrespective of their domain, must contribute towards this.

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