- “Our research funding system is skewed and laced with bureaucratic hurdles”, says Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director of Science Gallery
- “I want to thank the taxpayers—much of our funding for research comes from them. The challenge isn’t a lack of funds but proper management.”, says Dr. Shubha Tole, Neuroscientist and Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Kolkata: “One in ten people suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. “, says “, says Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS at ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025.
Speaking at the session, “The Frontiers of Science: Knowing the Unknown”, Dr. Pratima Murthy, elaborated, “Mental health is like any other disorder, and recognizing it is crucial. Mental and physical health often coexist, making awareness even more important. The human mind continues to surprise us. Advances in genetics and brain imaging can significantly aid mental health treatment, but strong collaboration between the government and scientists is essential. The magnitude of mental health challenges is vast, so we must work together and encourage young minds to enter this field”
Dr. Shubha Tole, Neuroscientist and Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, talking about the importance of research, said “Research opens minds. It’s the art of asking questions, and through this process, we uncover profound insights. Who better to solve a problem than a mind trained in research? I am amazed by the unexpected creativity of students. They come from various backgrounds, yet they find ways to tap into their creativity. My lab is like a neural network that helps them. What impresses me is the creativity of the human mind.”
Talking about research funding, Dr. Tole, added, “I want to thank the taxpayers—much of our funding comes from them. The challenge isn’t a lack of funds but proper management. We struggle to retain the best minds because of positioning, and passionate researchers often have to wait. Timely disbursal of funds is the real issue.”
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director of Science Gallery, Bangalore, also talked about the state of research funding in our country. She said, “Our funding system is skewed and laced with bureaucratic hurdles. The funding landscape is poorly developed and needs to be strengthened. We also need to rethink the direction of research.”
The ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, centred on the theme ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier’, will convene thought leaders and innovators to explore the challenges and opportunities in India’s ascendance in a rapidly changing world. In the face of climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements like AI, the summit delved into India’s role as both an ancient civilisation and a demographic powerhouse in shaping the future. The two-day summit brings together a confluence of ideas from global thought leaders, intellectuals, and change-makers, covering transformative possibilities in science, medicine, social contracts, and global leadership, with experts from diverse fields offering bold visions of a better, more sustainable world for all.
About ABP Network
An innovative media and content creation company, ABP Network is a credible voice in the broadcast and digital spheres, with a multi-language portfolio of news channels reaching 535 million individuals in India across YouTube, websites, apps, and social media platforms. ABP Studios, which comes under the purview of ABP Creations – the content innovation arm of the network – creates, produces, and licences original, groundbreaking content outside of news. ABP Network is a group entity of ABP, established almost 100 years ago, and continues to dominate as a leading media company.
