Science is not about facts; we must understand the initiation and consequence of any solution we provide to the public. As the development of science got greater momentum in the last two centuries and with each day passing, the conflict between
science and humanity creates a reverse repercussion to the environment
The debate on humanities and science going together is an old one and the ‘either/or’ question, it seems is finally getting an answer as the academic world is now looking at ‘why not’.
Steve Jobs once said, “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough—that its technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities that yield us the result that makes our hearts sing.”
We need science to solve the humanitarian problem. In today’s scenario, everything can be computed for which we need metadata to solve any problem. Data provides us with a way to use predictive analytics and with user experience; solutions are derived and eventually creating enormous opportunity.
Humanities help to solve complex moral issues, its complexities in various disciplines such as social work, public health, political science, economics, psychology, and medicine. An individual not only learns about himself or herself but will be able to see the problem on a bigger scale. Value of humanities was well explained by the University of Amsterdam Professor Rens Bod, “It is like the notion of ‘time’ in St. Augustine: if you don’t ask, we know, but if you ask, we are left empty-handed.”
In 1947, there were 20 universities in the country, by the early 1980s, there were over 200 and in 2019, the number touched 907 universities. And According to UGC, 88.91 per cent of students are enrolled at the undergraduate level, around 9.42 per cent at the postgraduate level, and only 0.64 per cent are enrolled for research. The doctoral degrees award was given to 7532 in the year 2004-2005.
There is much institution collaboration in national and international level, which bring into various interdisciplinary program and courses. A survey in 1999 by the Indian Centre for Philanthropy suggests that out of a total of 104 non-governmental donors in terms of their areas of philanthropic interest, 13 institutions were found to be interested in supporting the arts and humanities whose number is increasing simultaneously.
India ranks 6th in terms of scientific publication and 10th in the filing of the patent. Filling of patent increased to 47,857 in FY18 from 46, 904 in FY16 and rank 13th in Nature Index data with the actual paper published is 1442 in FY17.
Growth and immense interest in humanities subjects while taking admission. Research shows that growth in a number of students in the humanities department in recent past years but no growth or stagnant research work took place in terms of publishing. Kolkata is a hub of graduates from humanities with more than 1000+ students passes out each year.
DBT recently launched the DBT-BUILDER (Boost to University Interdisciplinary Departments of Life Sciences for Education and Research) scheme to boost advanced education and promotion of interdisciplinary research and technology development.
Survey also says that we are still lagging behind in collaboration with international institutions and university for the field of arts, humanities and social sciences in India. In the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), which emphasises a need to diversify and extend courses offered by universities and colleges in the next five years.
Survey also shows that an arts and humanities graduate indicates that 44 per cent of respondents entered employment and 48 per cent entered further study.
There is an old African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child”, and we believe it takes an ‘Entrepreneurial Village’ to raise a successful startup and it also takes all subjects to raise a perfect student.
Creative dynamics take inputs from arts, such as drama, music, dance, rhythm, communication, science, biology, physics and chemistry for a quality dimension.
Advancement in STEM coupled with greater humanistic understanding. Calculus and physics require linkage to history and ethics. Without the bondage of STEM and the humanities, society can be torn apart and is easily jeopardized.
Data Source: WIPO, Nature Index, Scopus, Higher Education Reports, In House Survey