"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."

Report of 'South Asia Media Workshop on Climate Change' in New Delhi during 27-28th Aug. 09
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way …”
---From 'A Tale of Two Cities'




Is climate change new?
It is no surprise to imagine that Charles Dickens may have predicted the challenge of Climate Change few centuries ago in different literary jargons distinctly isolated from the language of science. But climate change is as old as the hills, oceans and forests. Anthropogenic climate change began to leave their imprints in human memory millions years ago. But development of our comprehensive approach towards Climate Change as a concept, phenomenon and discipline of study has only materialized recently.


Climate change is not environmental negotiation only. It is also form of very competitive economic negotiations. The variant patterns and changing trends of climate change should be communicated by scientists inheriting the spirit of investigative journalist. Because it is a dynamic science. So everyone involved has a right to know about the impacts of the climate change, the processes which are very difficult to decipher and discern the true meaning of particular event by conventional benchmarks of inquiry.


To understand the processes of Climate Change, it requires a new holistic paradigm shift in our thinking. When language of threats arising out of climate change is going through the prism of real, urgent and dangerous the meaning reflected by these words have acquired definite meaning in the parlance of scientific evidence.


The current crisis of climate change is arrived not only due to production of the GHGs in recent times but also due to long lasting accumulation of the GHGs since many decades. Because of the long life of Carbon Di Oxide, Methane, Nitrus Oxide and HFCs, PFCs, SF6 the accumulated concentration of the GHGs is causing cumulative impact on the environment. The world is having very small window of opportunity as far as mitigation and adaptation is concerned. If the consensus arrived around 2 degree Celsius is to be materialized then world must stop the concentration of CO2 upto 450 ppm. Right now the world has concentration of CO2 around 430 ppm.


So there is very little room for maneuvering to compromise the interest of the world. In essence, the disturbance in the natural carbon cycle (emission and sinking and level of precipitation) is causing the driver of climate change. The upcoming risk is related to natural carbon dioxide sinks becoming weak in the future because of effects of increasing ocean acidification, ocean circulation changes. As warming amplifies, previously inert pools of carbon could release more GHGs.


Many key climate indicators are already moving beyond the patterns of natural variability within which contemporary society and economy have developed and thrived. Indicators include a) Global mean surface temperature, b)Sea level rise, c)Global ocean temperature, d) Arctic sea rise extent, e)Ocean acidification, f) Extreme climatic events


The rediscovery of the concept of the growth:
It is must to remember that no country in the world has ever built a low carbon economy. The whole debate of the negotiating processes is about sharing the growth by cooperation having equity and fairness. These are very much the prerequisites for the effective climate change agreement. The acceptance of two degree centigrade limit may be one of the aspects of criticism leveled towards leadership of developing countries but it is equally important to understand that Annex one counters in UNFCC framework are pushing for capping the development processes to contribute to the success of negotiations taking shape towards the commencement of Copenhagen summit.


The technical point concerned with the argument of “Need to have equal space to grow” can be explained by the Carbon budget of the world which is estimated by the experts for the period of 1850-2050. As per this budget, out of total World Carbon Budget which is around 650 Giga Tonnes of Carbon, Annex one countries have already consumed 209 GTC in advance during the course of industrialization and reindustrialization period. If we calculate the proportion of the carbon budget to be spent for the developing countries according to the population they have surpassed their share. They should get around 137 GTC which is very much less than what they have expended around 209 GTC. So in order to reverse this allocation, it requires enormous effort and level of commitment for mitigation and adaptation. This excess level of emissions crossing beyond their legitimate right based on population is largely due to their lifestyle and consumption patterns.


From Bali to Copenhagen through Poznan:
Despite evolving framework of regular conventions adopted, emphasized and debated during the recent times, there is no substantial progress made by Annex One countries (majority developed countries) towards mitigation. The share of the cumulative emissions globally has been demonstrated by consistent negation of the principle of ‘Right to Live’ inherited by the vast population (80%) of the developing and least developed countries. This population of south is consuming five times less energy than those of developed world. The figures speak for themselves: USA: 28 %, EU-25.23 %, China 9%, Japan 5%, Canada 2%, Australia 2%, India 2%, Mexico and Brazil 2%, South Korea and Indonesia 2%, Rest of the World 26% (primarily former soviet block and Africa). Significantly the share of the emissions of Annex one countries has risen in the recent time more than the figures just demonstrated for the period of 1950 to 2000.


Currently India is accounting for 2 tonnes of Carbon per capita emission compared to global average level of 4 tonnes/capita. So we are still growing at modest pace. Despite the fact that some Indian publications commented that Indian government compromised their stand at LaKila Major Economic Forum summit held in Italy recently, India has given substantial commitment to international community that “at not point during the phase of ascending economic growth we will allow to grow our emissions beyond the average emissions/capita that of developed countries.”


A 2007 review of the UNFCC found that between 1990s and 2006, while CO2 emissions of all industrialized nations declined by 1.3 per cent, this decline was primarily due to the low emissions of countries whose economies were in transition. If these nations were excluded, CO2 emissions of rich counties had actually increased by 14.5 percent. Throughout the different agreements and negotiations of 1988, 1992, 1997 responsibility was clearly identified for the Annex one countries for the concerned emission cuts. But they were consistently pushing for OFFSET mitigation mechanisms.


The whole politics of the emissions currently is concentrated around the arguments to decide the base line for the starting of the emission level reduction. Therefore developed countries are playing new game of introducing enhanced emission reduction targets by increasing the base line year beyond 2000. For instance, USA wants to commit itself for 20 % emission cuts unto 2020 having base line 2005, EU is pushing for 20-30% on 1990 level, Japan 7 % on 1990, Australia for 5-15 etc. Rich countries are accounting for seven of every ten tonnes of CO2 since the start of industrial era.


The fact is that the increasing the base line and increasing the percentage of emission reduction targets will compel us to forget the cumulative increase of the emissions and their reflections in the cumulative increase in the proportion of the total emissions. So even the modest target for the Annex one countries is set to reduce 40 % of the total emissions around the 1990 level to be achieved by 2020, this is very less than what is required to stall the march of impending crisis. This is to be remembered that target has be achieved without any room of OFFSETs by Annex one countries by investing in developing countries. Currently whatever percentage of emission reduction developed world has achieved the primary and major share has been of OFFSETs in terms of CDMs and other bypasses. Of the total emission reductions, EU is gaining 66 % and USA is earning 75% emissions from the OFFSETs. This is against the principle of the UNFCC. There is no domestically enhanced, substantial effort in the Annex one countries which proves the seriousness of those countries in achieving the relevant and practically achievable targets set for emission reduction.


Upto August 2009, there were total 4200 CDM projects which were in pipeline. Out of these, 1774 were registered projects. Out of total projects, 73% are being run in Asia Pacific region. The deals of CDM projects are very secretive and public access to information to these agreements is not satisfactory. The OFFSETTing pattern shows that there is no real effort to invest in the clean energy. CDM transaction volumes have been small and falling by 30 %. But contrary to these reports of decline in the prospects of CDM, the market for Carbon driven applications in industries and other technologies increased by US $ 126 billion. This is primarily due to Spot shares and futures trading. The mushrooming of the start ups related to new renewable are suffocating due to lack of capital and also due to the recent financial crisis, which is here to stay in coming months. World has witnessed that due to recent ambitious start ups in bio-diesel, huge population of the developing world has experienced shock of extreme food crisis.


Energy:
The options in front of developing countries to increase their preparedness for the challenge of mitigation involve moving towards renewable, adopting standard practices of Energy Efficiency and moving towards modern technologies of mitigation (expensive Integrated Classification Combustion Cycle, Carbon Sequestration and Deposition Techniques). The tools of CLF remain competitive but the capital cost for these still remain high. Dealing with all these problems of access to technology, complexities of technology transfer and criticalities of IPR regime it has to be emphasized again and again that Climate Change is not linear science.


When 39 % of India`s primary energy is coming from the chullahs burning the biomass(black carbon) and when renewable now accounting to only one % of the total energy generation there is fierce initiative from the Annex one countries to divert the debate towards the “damage” done by the carbon emitted by biomass combustion in the developing countries where nearly two third of the population is still bereft of any commercialized energy resources which potentially lead to less carbon emissions. To date, 78 % of world`s primary energy comes from the burning of biomass. Question is whether do poors of the world really contribute to the climate change? Answer is confident NO!


The majority of the developing countries are in the process of building their energy, transport and infrastructure. In the energy sector transportation has been one of the biggest contributor jumping by 18 % of the total emissisons, There is no energy transformation archived in developed countries as yet. Still India and China along with other non-Annex countries can invest in leapfrog technologies which are efficient, green and affordable. India`s Total Primary Energy Supply/capita is 0.5 while that of OECD is 4.7 and China 1.4. The electricity consumption of India is 503 units per capita while that of OECD us 8381 and China amounting to 2040 units per capita.


In the region every country is blessed with internal and external security problems, constant conflicts leading towards loss of life and habitat, pervasion of chronic issues of huger, poverty, lack of basic health facilities marred by void of education and human rights, the climate change is emerging as an issue of concern to all members of diverse societies, cultures, citizenships loaded with narrow differences and also having lot of similarities to share due to the common ecology shared by the physical borders of those societies and countries.


Challenges:
The number of glaciers on the part of Indian Himalayan ranges increased due to fragmentation. Larger glaciers have become lesss in number and smaller ones have increased. Glaciers at lower attitudes are retreating faster. Rivers are carrying more water from glaciers in winter and in some cases the glacial melt in summer has decreased.


New ambitious mechanism of diffusion of technology must be developed in order to facilitate the developing countries for strengthening their hands in mitigating the damage being done by climate change. This mere access of technology will not solve the problem of the enhancing the mitigation efforts. There is urgent need to develop capacity building institutions in the developing countries, improved financial mechanisms, and whole set of development initiatives to improve the adaptable techniques to incorporate the modern technologies. The question of IPRs is daunting one. There is much discussion about the accelerated technology transfer. We need to know about what exactly accelerated means?


According to one of the reports prepared by the International Consultancy, it is predicted that the world is having 70 % of it`s technologies to achieve 40 % upto the emission redcution level. All the efforts taken in this direction must be pragmatic i.e. measurable, reportable and verifiable. Achieving the harmony in the developement and adaptation is the big task and this can be countered by embedding their climate change strategies in the sustainable developmental processes.


There are much more complex challenges of urgent priorities and commitments. Effective financing and resource delivery is one of the big tasks lying ahead. During the generation of the resources the aspects of adequacy and scale will play important role apart from criteria of additional cost benefit and public entitlement. In all the priorities of the demand, supply and delivery the key features standing out are: adequacy, predictability, automatically, degree of levy on transactions. Rational for enhanced financial flows are evolved from adaptation cost studies by developing more and more information.


Additionality measures include climate proofing, mangrove covers, early warning systems, crop insurance schemes, tracking and preventing the spread of communicable diseases etc.. There is increasing thinking about normal development approaches to be practiced as the adaptation strategy. So there is inherent challenge to address the paradox between development initiatives and adaptation strategies. Some of the additionalities which may form the part of development processes are Risk management, constant dissemination of information, building excellent research capabilities, capacity building, concrete measures of co-financing, financing multilateral interventions etc. Delivery management is also important part of these processes where role of government, different institutions, marketing and supply institutions.


Merit Good !
We have been consistently experiencing that market cannot deliver the merit good. But it does not mean that market does not have potential to provide that. But in the game of Climate Change negotiations apart from Civil Society, Markets have definitely emerged as a decisive factor influencing the process of bargaining. Let us wait for the Copenhagen to imprint its historical significance by expressing the obligation towards Common but differentiated responsibilities. We need action for the words spoken by world and already advocated throughout the treaties in terms of letter and spirit.


Considering the fact that Kyoto Protocol was a pledge and review agreement; eventhough Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005, the rules for a penalty for non-compliance or failure to meet targets were never conclusively negotiated. Next, Bali action plan was based on four main pillars of mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology. It is important that a agreement is reached concerning all these pillars. Consensus on these pillars will determine the extent of success to be realised in the agreement of Copenhegan.


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“Rise of Nuclear Energy Development initiatives in Climate Change Debate!”

Report of Indian Nuclear Society-TERI NATIONAL WORKSHOP

“Nuclear Energy Development in India: addressing climate change, public perception and large scale deployment”; New Delhi, 13 August 2009

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Nuclear Energy has the potential to be a reliable, sustainable and environment friendly energy source that can contribute to the accessibility of affordable energy services in all interested countries for present and future generations. Any use of nuclear energy should be beneficial, responsible and sustainable, with due regard to the protection of people and the environment, non-proliferation, and security.

----International Atmoic Energy Agency Handbook of Nuclear Energy Basic Principles

While giving inaugeral address, Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to PM said, "Nuclear renaissance in the recent times is driven by Climate Change threat. Mitigation technologies like nuclear, hydro, renewable, energy efficiency practices along with new age techniques of Carbon capture & storage along with Integrated Gasification are responsible for creating new possibilities towards achieving target to stop the global warming increase by 2 degree centigrade which will be topic of much awaited discussion in coming Copenhagen negotiations on Climate Change. It is the projection of International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear energy generation capacity must grow by 80% upto 2030. (World Nuclear Association, 2008) So, contemporary outlook established by Technology Foresight predictions say that Nuclear Energy is the way forward in ending the problem of depleting fossil fuel resources when the utilization of those is becoming more and more expensive.

Despite past evidences based on two accidents of Three Mile Islands and Chernobyl, whole world is realizing to end the long lasting ban on Nuclear Energy projects because of ascending significance of it`s long lasting low operational cost and less per unit energy cost. The urge to invest more and more in nuclear energy was the principle reason behind the recent initiatives taken by western world in forging new partnerships for adapting Knowledge Management practices to the very complex, strategic and high ended nuclear technologies. Most recently countries who were most critical about going nuclear. ”

Recent Nuclear Technology Review Report, 2009 by DG, International Atomic Energy Agency vindicates what Dr. Chidambaram was saying:
“Also in Europe, the United Kingdom published a White Paper in January 2008 that stressed that it was in the public interest for nuclear energy to continue to form part of the United Kingdom’s low carbon energy mix in order to help meet carbon reduction targets and ensure secure energy supplies. Several European utilities expressed interest in building new reactors in the UK. Italy decided to start negotiations with French government to acquire, build, operate and generate energy from Nuclear power plants. This lead towards Italy announcing plans for re-establishing the legal, regulatory and technical infrastructure necessary to restart its nuclear power programme, which had been shut down following a referendum in 1987. A bill overturning the nuclear moratorium was approved by the lower chamber of the Parliament in early November. In Romania, partners signed an investment agreement to finance construction of Cernavoda-3 and -4. In Bulgaria, partners signed contracts for the construction of Belene-1 and -2. In Finland, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) applied to the Council of State for approval in principle to build Olkiluoto-4, and two further applications are being prepared by other companies. In Switzerland, Atel, Axpo and BKW FMB Energy have submitted applications to build new nuclear power plants in Niederamt, Beznau and Gösgen. In Slovakia, Slovenské elektrárne launched a tender for the resumption of construction at Mochovce-3 and -4.”

Dr. R.K. Pauchauri, DG, TERI and Chairperson IPCC said,

“ Skeptics still question the validity of claims behind the climate change. Climate change is reality. Every government on planet has recognized the need of having a comprehensive understanding about the implications of Climate Change which can also be attributed to the disruptive changes in environment. The world global warming is being attributed only in terms of temperature rise and having impact over sea glaciers resulting in melting and sea level rise. But there are different dimensions of Climate Change; drought, intense winter, El-Nino and enormous other catastrophes.

The kind of regional diversity we witness in our country is challenge to understand the local implications of human induced intervention in climate. Considering the vast diversity, there is need of at least 20 study groups which will rigorously map the coming scenario of environment and suggesting the local action for effects arising due to global problem. Looking towards enormous level of scientific-governmental efforts needed to reduce the degree of vulnerability it is very very important to start active communication with society.”

Dr. S. K. Sinha, Director, Reactor Design & Development Group & Design, Manufacturing & Automation Group, BARC said,

“India has mastered the Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle in nuclear reactor and country can become world leader in this area inspired by Three Stage Nuclear program. For many years opposing nuclear energy was principle identity of being a committed environmentalist. But now no more ! We are already enjoying the fruits of the first generation India has chalked out a nuclear power program based on its domestic resource position of uranium and thorium.

The first stage started with setting up the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) based on natural uranium and pressure tube technology. In the second phase, the fissile material base will be multiplied in Fast Breeder Reactors using the plutonium obtained from the PHWRs. Considering the large thorium reserves in India, the future nuclear power program will be based on thorium–²³³U fuel cycle. However, there is a need for the timely development of thorium-based technologies for the entire fuel cycle. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) has been designed to fulfill this need. The AHWR is a 300 MW_e, vertical, pressure tube type, heavy water moderated, boiling light water cooled natural circulation reactor. The fuel consists of (Th–Pu)O₂ and (Th–²³³U)O₂ pins. The fuel cluster is designed to generate maximum energy out of ²³³U, which is bred in situ from thorium and has a slightly negative void coefficient of reactivity.

For the AHWR, the well-proven pressure tube technology has been adopted and many passive safety features, consistent with the international trend, have been incorporated. A distinguishing feature which makes this reactor unique, from other conventional nuclear power reactors is the fact that it is designed to remove core heat by natural circulation, under normal operating conditions, eliminating the need of pumps. In addition to this passive feature, several innovative passive safety systems have been incorporated in the design, for decay heat removal under shut down condition and mitigation of postulated accident conditions. The design of the reactor has progressively undergone modifications and improvements based on the feedbacks from the analytical and the experimental R&D. This paper gives the details of the current design of the AHWR.”

When asked about what special efforts are being taken to address the upcoming need of human resources in view to aggressively go ahead with third stage of nuclear power programe he said:

“Research and development in the field of cutting edge nuclear technologies have to be necessarily based on elaborate programmes, and the velocity of such R&D is strongly dependent on the level of inputs of our limited resources to such programmes, in competition with other shorter term priorities. Recognising this, and the fact that India has to be in the lead as far as the development and deployment of thorium utilisation technologies are concerned, an early beginning in this direction has already been made.

A strong indigenous R&D infrastructure, including trained scientific and engineering manpower, developed over last several decades, is already available, to a large extent, to help us in reaching further milestones towards the goal of large scale deployment of thorium as a sustainable energy resource for India. In order to make further continued progress on this path in a focussed and co-ordinated manner, and also to make an optimum utilisation of the resources available to us at any point of time, it is now important to formulate a fairly well laid out roadmap for the third stage of our nuclear power programme.

Dr Pradeep Kumar Dadhich, Senior Fellow, TERI said,

“On a per capita basis, our consumption is around 610 kWh per year. In the countries comprising the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), the corresponding figure is about 10 000 kWh [3]. India’s population is expected to rise to 1.5 billion by the year 2050. If we assume that the development aspirations of the people of India

would call for per capita electricity generation of about 5000 kWh per year, the country has to plan to have total electricity generation of about 7500 billion kWh per year. This is about 12 times the generation in the fiscal year 2001-02. Electricity generation of this magnitude calls for a careful examination of all issues related to sustainability, including diversity of energy supply sources and technologies, security of supplies, self sufficiency, security of energy infrastructure, effect on local, regional and global environments and demand side management.

We have rather meagre reserves of uranium, the only naturally occurring fissile element that can be directly used in a nuclear reactor to produce energy through nuclear fission. We, however, have nearly a third of the entire world’s thorium, which is a fertile element, and needs to be first converted to a fissile material, uranium-233, in a reactor. Our strategies for large scale deployment of nuclear energy must be, and are therefore, focussed towards utilization of thorium.

Goals of the Third Stage are:

The third stage of our programme has to necessarily meet the following goals:

i) Utilisation of thorium as fuel on a commercial scale.
ii) Large scale of deployment of nuclear power in the country.
iii) Achieving good economic performance as compared to alternate options for energy generation.
iv) Attaining higher levels of transparent safety, through optimal utilisation of inherent and passive safety features.
v) Utilising the proliferation resistant potential of thorium fuel cycle to the full extent.
vi) Providing for adaptability to non-electrical applications, in particular, desalination and
vii) High temperature processing applications, including those for generation of non-fossil fluid fuels. ”

Shri S.K. Chande, Vice Chairman, AERB delivered talk on ‘Regulatory aspects of nuclear energy in India’ especially the different credible and concrete safety measures taken to ensure the long lasting security of the nuclear power plants. He talked about different safety surveillance mechanisms deployed for nuclear facilities, radiation facilities, industrial operations, Environmental aspects, emergency preparedness. Also, he briefly described about Research activities in the following areas are being pursued at AERB's Safety Research Institute (SRI), Kalpakkam.

In his talk ‘Public perception of nuclear energy in India: experiences from project implementation, Dr. S. K. Malhotra who is Head, Public Awareness Division, DAE elaborated about the number of prevailing misconceptions about nuclear power plants and nuclear energy altogether. During the second world war when the nuclear weapons were used then it is significant to recall that there was no nuclear power reactor operational in all over world. It was only in 1954 that Soviet Union operationalized first nuclear power plant Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant. Therefore public perception that nuclear energy is only used for nuclear weapons needs to be corrected again and again. The same Japan which was humiliated in massive destruction due to nuclear weapons is generating around 30 % of it`s energy from nuclear fission.

The decision of particular country to go nuclear is definitely one of the debatable questions. But we should not underestimate the enormous potential of this which holds enormous potential to develop human lives. The basic facts about difference between power generation and weapons development needs to be told to public. Method by which fundamental scientific facts are taught in school are not entirely reflecting the kind of other civilian research work being held in Nuclear energy establishment.

The science teaching in schools is moreover directed at explaining the different aspects about nuclear explosion but not the positive aspects of it`s deployment for solving wide ranging problems in our life. Eradication of wide ranging negative perceptions have lead towards stopping of various mining activities to acquire natural uranium in our country. Out of the total minable land where there is estimate that we have more than one lakh tonnes of uranium ore and o.7 % percent of that accounting for natural enriched uranium is till remained unexplored. The deeply rooted ignorance about nuclear power generation plants is posing enormous pressing challenge of Public Engagement to educate them about the issues involved. In various concerns expressed by civil society, non-governmental organizations etc. So DAE is involved in persistent demystification of the facts of nuclear energy so as to reduce the element of distrust in the public mind scape.

Presenting the journalistic perspective about nuclear energy development in India NDTV Science Editor, Mr. Pallav Bagla narrated in detail the status of media's approach towards investigating the facts. He was very critical about the quality of investigative journalism happening in India. Expressing his commitment towards discovering facts from any quarter of country, he emphasized on engaging in continuous study and interaction about issues of nuclear energy by personal involvement.

He expressed satisfaction that he is allowed to have freedom to work on scientific issues in serious which other organizations rarely give. “Due to the persistent engagement with the subject I am able to identify the correct significance of the event/incidence to make sense of the jargon involved, linking the information received to the hardcore facts already known by experience and constant habit of research with restless toiling is really needed in this profession, Complacency to go cynical by having sensational breaking news is really doing damage to the wider debate about the real issues of nuclear energy.

On the other hand the DAE, compared to it`s massive strength of 75, 000 minimum work force has allocated only around 10 people for Public Awareness division. There is much secrecy involved in various operations of nuclear energy generation. Because the generation of nuclear energy is going to be competitive more and more in coming days, certain level of desired and deserved transparency and openness should be given to journalists. The quality and quality of information resources about nuclear energy issues is also very important issue which cannot be ignored.

On the other hand, the DAE compared to it`s massive strength of 75, 000 minimum work force has allocated only around 10 people for Public Awareness division. There is much secrecy involved in various operations of nuclear energy generation. Because the generation of nuclear energy is going to be competitive more and more in coming days, certain level of desired and deserved transparency and openness should be given to journalists. The quality and quality of information resources about nuclear energy issues is also very important issue which cannot be ignored.

CLEARLY THIS WORKSHOP MARKS NEW HORIZON OF DEBATE IN CONTEXT OF LONG PERSISTED IGNORANCE TOWARDS POTENTIAL OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN REDUCING THE ENERGY DEFICIT FOR AND THUS MOVING TOWARDS EXPLORING SOLUTIONS FOR climate change induced abrut transitions.

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We learn best when we teach !

Moving Beyond Cognitive Level to Lifelong Learning !
Developing approach towards Information Literacy !!


Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink! The same can be translated to voluminous information explosion around the world. Pragmatic evaluation of information source, sensible selection of relevant information, efficient use of the acquired information remains the challenge of this world which is increasingly becoming vulnerable due to misinformation, lack of processed information and ignorance towards the aspect of utility which comes by the intuition and common sense, qualities which are sought after in ascending way from information science professionals. Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (‘American Library Association’, 1989)


Defining competency in specifically defined skills in education institutions is still unattended area of building knowledge base. The difference between entry level and exit level competency is the measurement of the value added to the potential of that particular student's learning capability. This positive difference in competency level leading towards development of individual careers is one of the credible benchmarks of the accreditation of the educational institutions.

Many times due to influence of certain sources, student already know about the strength of the educational program they are going to undertake. But they may not know what type of skills and knowledge attitude they must need in order to transform this opportunity of education into successful entry into the professional work desired by student. So this journey from ‘Desired’ to become ‘Deserved’ travels through channel of skill development which is entirely shaped by evolving dimensions of information literacy.


Why it is important to understand the difference between entry level and exit level competency? The reason is society reflects its composition in educational institutions. Then is certain class or caste possess different skills than other group of people then it is futile to measure all of them on the same academic criteria even though avoiding bias against meritorious students. Emergence of paradigm of information literacy is very critical shift in assessment of the students at the juncture where we all are debating Affirmative Action and other Social Justice Initiatives across the public and private sector. Skills and Competency should remain the entry and exit assessment criteria whoever the person is and irrespective of the whatever merit and heritage individual student have in the concerned discipline of study, field of profession or perspective of thinking.


Benefits of Information Literacy Assessment:
The specific need for information must be demonstrated to the appropriate authorities. This requires understanding of the problem in rational manner, preparing the clear presentation having comprehensive idea about the problem or task in hand and communicate it in simplest language without letting in any jargon which may hamper the process of understanding of the problem in mutual way. After doing this justifying the expenses is major task because it helps to plan and acquire the resources in advance for the fulfillment of the task. Earning accreditation for the services which involves the information creation and dissemination activities. Then comes the level of articulation of level of competencies. This is embedded part of direct teaching strategy and done by organizing students in different learning groups by identifying different information


Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning. An information literate individual is able to:
a) Determine the extent of information needed
b)Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
c)Evaluate information and its sources critically
d)Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
e)Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
f)Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access
and use information ethically and legally
(Source: Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education: © ALA, 2000, http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm)


Objectives of these ACRL standards is to rank relevancy of selected skills, be responsible in assessment of no. of skills under acquisition, matching skills to that of required competency benchmarks and articulating the level of performance based on the acquired skill utility in our operations or activities. This approach is driven by belief that we have to create ‘lifelong learning skills’ in the students or the group which is undergoing intensive/extensive training. Then focus of our efforts shifts beyond cognitive level of learning and moves towards process of ‘Lifelong Learning’.


‘Lifelong Learning’ involves creating a rational attitude and interest towards the subject, persistence on timely completion of the task, realistic and relevant goal setting, multiple approaches to problem solving, willingness to apply learning and not least willingness to apply learning in our daily lives. Most significant initiative from the learners should be in the form of knowing when to ask for information. This task will demand enormous systematic efforts to identify right source, cumulative conscious efforts to compile data, contextual processing of that data to transform that into information, then practicing on that acquired understanding to inherit non-obvious tacit and generate new explicit knowledge. The best way to develop the sustainable habit of life long learning is to develop acumen of teaching because we learn best when we teach !


(Special thanks to Prof. Caroline M. Stern, Professor, Ferris State University, MI, USA. She recently delivered talk Information Literacy Competencies: New Directions in New Delhi)


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Celebrating Spirit of Father of Scientific Revolution in International Year of Astronomy 2009

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.--- Galileo Galilee

There is nothing more beautiful than truth and nothing more true than beautiful thing. Galielo`s life was evidence to this proposition. When we celebrate International Astronomical year 2009 and dedicate ourselves to discern the concealed theories of the universe we have to remember that the exploration of knowledge about this universe started in the age where there was no separate identity for science. Alchemy was considered as the form and appearance of the scientific phenomenon by which common mind is always intrigued to the extent of appreciation, fear and exclamation.

This was the period in the 16^th century when the foundations of Aristotelian beliefs were not shaken. This was the time when Michel Angelo died, Shakespeare was borne. This is the golden period of renaissance and the man we are talking about is one of the chief architects of this revolution; yes, he is Galileo Galilee. Never before word rebel and arrogance were truly hallmark of intellectual rigor and passion for discovery of truth embedded in the natures bounty. Even though in literal sense Galileo was not a person word ‘arrogance’ signifies but he always longed to excel within rules but more often he bridled against them.

Contemporaries of Galileo were greatly involved in advancing human understanding through landmark works like Magnetism by William Gilbert, New Astronomy by Johanes Keplar, Science Capital by Padua and not to forget his own work The Starry Messenger. He was the pioneer in discovering the telescope. Indicating how path breaking was that discovery, Danial Borstine says, “Who would dare use a toy to penetrate majesty of celestial sphere.” He tried to negate what Keplar said about the tides happening due to the influence of gravity of moon. He ridiculed him in soft language as, “Among the great men who have philosophized about the action of tides, the one who surprised me most is Keplar. He was the person of independent genius. But he became interested in the action of the moon on the water, and in other occult phenomena, and similar childlessness.

He was the first man to tell us that universe has more stars than seen before milky way has innumerable stars. Galileo was middle age celebrity. He shared a zest of social life. He was very much aware about limitations of human quest to know about the universe. This is reflected from one of his remarks, “Brash to call everything in universe vain & superfluous if it does not serve us The presumptuous ignorance of mankind !” He believed that “The universe cannot be read untill we have learnt the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language, and the letters are triangles, circles and geometrical figures, without which means it is humanly impossible to comprehend a single word. (Opere II Saggiatore p.171) Without contrasting the spirit of humility expresses in last two sentences he goes on to say that In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.(Arago, Eulogy of Galileo, 1874)

He describes the divine spirit enshrined in the human attitude to investigate natural laws in a language apparently seems high order diplomatic argument and on other side reflects a true ingenuity of a reasoned man bent upon demolishing the mental world refusing to open their minds to new winds of knowledge. He says, “The divine intellect indeed knows infinitely more propositions than we ever can know. But with regard to those few which the human intellect does understand. I believe that it`s knowledge equals the Divine in objective certainty.”

He built critical attack against the belief system which were powerful in sustaining the anti-rational establishment. He says, “It is very pious to say and prudent to affirm that the holy Bible can ever speak untruth—whenever its true meaning is understood. But I believe nobody will deny abstruse, and may say things which are quite different from what its barewords signify.” This observation of him signifies to his ability to discern the paradoxes associated with the culture which builds beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, culture and civilization. In this context it is important to remember that Galileo was visionary communicator. He believed in using language of common man. He used to say, “I work in colloquial language use therefore I must have everyone able to read it. He was quick prolific, astute in dedicating himself for better understanding of people what he was working upon. In this respect he was among the rarest of the rare scientists.

Galileo Galilei has been described by Albert Einstein as “the father of modern physics, indeed, of modern science all together.” He was the one who brought in new ideas into classical mechanics and systematized the field. His great discoveries with the telescope mark him as the founder of modern observational astronomy. While he was also a prolific inventor, his importance in history is as an outspoken champion of science. He is remembered for his defense of the new (then) heliocentric theory of Nicholas Copernicus against the dogmatic views of the Catholic Church. Galileo was a wonderful writer and orator who understood the importance and necessity popularizing science. While he was unparalleled in his pursuit of truth, he was also known for his arrogance, sarcasm and conceit which landed him in many disputes. Science got a distinct identity with the life and works of Galileo.

Galileo's thought process about the grandness of the structure and mechanism of science is evident from his quote: “Infinites and indivisibles transcend our finite understanding, the former on account of of their magnitude, the latter because of their smallness; Imagine what they are when combined.” This was foresighted statement the fruits of which we are watching today with he advancement of Quantum Physics, High Energy Astronomy both hand in hand.

(With inputs Based on Talk : “Galileo and the Rise of Science” by P.R. Vishwanath, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore delivered on 6^th Aug, 2009, Jawaharlal Nehru University)