DoTE plans database of Tamil Nadu scientists

The State-run Science City, a wing of Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE), would be the nodal agency for developing the scientist’s data. Accordingly, a committee comprising of retired scientists, academicians and experts as members, has been constituted to collect the database of various scientists in various fields.

A senior official from the DoTE said that a database of all the scientific infrastructure such as equipment available within Science City member institutes has been created in order to help the students, researchers, faculty members and even public to know about the analysis capabilities of the institutes.

He also pointed out that some of the notable Science City member institutes are Anna University, Cancer Institute, Central Leather Research Institute, Bureau of Indian Standards, Central Polytechnic, Chennai Snake Park Trust, Film and TV Institute of Tamil Nadu, King Institute of Preventive Medicine and MS Swaminathan Research Foundation among others.

In addition to the creation of scientists’ database, the Science City also started networking the libraries of its member institutes. “Taking into consideration the importance of libraries as sources of learning, unique agglomeration of about 40 libraries in the 60 member institutions will be networked,” he said adding, “This project will be carried out in a phased manner.”

Stating that most of the libraries belong to State and Central governments with books of great importance, the official said, the automation of libraries and networking through the worldwide web was to avoid duplication of books thereby reducing the cost of purchase of books and to reduce the time involved in searching for books.

Pointing out that Science City would also bring out Science City Library Cards, which would be accepted by all the member institute libraries, the official said, “It has also been proposed to organize for Inter Library Loans, so that knowledge is shared among the member institutes.”