You must have read about gravity in school. Gravity is the force that pulls objects down. If you know about gravity, then, you must be aware of the story behind coining the idea of gravity; the very popular Newton and the apple story. But, that story is how Newton started thinking about falling, and why objects essentially ‘fall down’ but not fall upwards or sideways. After that incident, Newton ‘researched’ behind this phenomenon, used conventional mathematical tools and devised the idea we study today in physics classes, ‘Gravity’.
Many of the theories we study today in all the fields of education, were once researched by scholars, and was put across to people and was collaboratively agreed upon. We develop new technology, easier means of living, understanding the society, discover new ideologies, from the theories coined by researchers.
The oxford dictionary defines Research as, “the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions”. (dictionary, 1999) Systematically analysing an idea, or sources and finding concrete solutions, is the key of research. Not all researchers work on a ‘problem’, so as to suffice the needs of the society. Researchers research fundamentally, because they are curious. Some people are curious how the sun burns, some are curious how humans interact, and some are curious how the electrons move.
Why research? Re-search, generally means to re- hunt the ideas that are already hidden in the realms of this world. (Lodhi, p. 2008)Research helps the society to maintain It’s equilibrium in understanding the world. Research helps future scientists, and social scientists take reasonable actions and decisions about worldly subjects. What aids in a robust individual to pursue his or her curiosity in a subject towards research? Clear policies, practices, suitable learning training and mentoring opportunities allows a clean environment for researchers to work.
According to major publications in India, Research here, is just about publishing a good work and getting recognised. But actual research work is more than that. Whenever global rankings of universities are announced, there is some murmur in our media and elsewhere about India’s poor placement. Former President Pranab Mukherjee spoke about this in many forums, asking why the quality of our education system cannot be as good as those in other countries. (PTI, 2016)
Research is one aspect that often got highlighted, hung by the observation that the number of publications and their citations are relatively less in India, in comparison with various developed countries. Why are they low?
A culture of research is largely missing in our institutions. One of the major reasons why research is not considered by young Indian citizens is the time duration and intensive work required. India can be safely called as the ‘Worker providing’ country. The amount of engineers, bankers and doctors we produce in a year for other countries has been marginally increasing over the years. It is true, that these jobs pay better and you can start earning, just after graduating; but that is not the case with research. Researchers today are in desperate need for funds, and support for their idea to be conceived.
Some of the ways in which one institution can promote research culture, can be; Facilitating open discussions can help foster a more collaborative environment, by giving researchers the chance to share their experiences of not only their successes, but also their “failures”. Embed and encourage research at an institution level can help in students to take part in research activities. Scholarship programmes, funding pools from the university side can burst the bubble of anxiety and fear associated with research.
References
dictionary, O. (1999). Oxford Dictionary.
Lodhi, A. S. (n.d.). A study of researching the research culture in Pakistani public universities.
PTI. (2016). Pranab Mukherjee on research culture.