TIRUPATI: Top scientists of Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Mozambique, even Russia, turned to their Indian counterparts for help in one form or the other to address challenges unique to their respective nations at the 104th edition of the Indian Science Congress here on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka, according to Prof. Manjula Vithanapathirana, general president, Sri Lankan Association for the Advancement of Science, has been grappling with a chronic kidney disease which afflicts people of all ages in the north central province, resulting in a significantly high rate of mortality.
“One of the reasons for this disease could be excessive use of fertilizers, but we did try to shift to organic fertilizers, only to discover a drop in the yield of crops. So, farmers have returned to fertilisers which they used earlier. I believe Indian scientists could collaborate with us to address this major health issue,” she said.
Sri Lanka also wants help in digital security.
The Czech Academy of Sciences reckons Indian scientists could help in at least half a dozen fields such as astronomy, bio-technology, ecology, climate change and genetically modified crops. The Russian Foundation for Basic Research sought enhanced participation of young Indian researchers in collaborative projects.
