Start Date: December 26, 2012
End Date: December 29, 2012
Status: Closed
What:"Tibetan Science Conclave - II"
Where:"Tibetan Youth Hostel, Bangalore, Karnataka, India"
When:"26/12/2012 to 29/12/2012"
The immense benefit science and technology can bring to the society have been largely ignored in pre-modern Tibet. Although practical introduction of developments in science and technology did not come until Tibet was occupied by China in the middle of the 20th century, much of the Tibetan population still remains untrained in scientific and technical fields. Even in exile, despite the 17% annual budget allocation for education for many years, we suffer dearth of Tibetan expertise in various fields of scientific and technical professions. According to a survey conducted in 2010 by Tibetan Scientific Society (TS2) in seven major cities in India, only 100 out of the initial 285 students with science background in high school are currently pursuing bachelor’s degrees in scientific disciplines and18 of these students are pursuing postgraduate/graduate studies with only two enrolled in PhD programs in science. Despite the availability of various scholarship programs, this dismally low number of Tibetans pursuing higher studies in scientific fields still remains as one of the biggest concerns of TS2. Addressing the issues related to this situation is at the core of Tibetan Science Conclaves’ aims and objectives.
Tibetan Scientific Society (TS2) is a non-profitable and non-governmental organization. Among others, an important activity of TS2 is to hold biannual science workshops called Tibetan Science Conclaves (TSC).The first conclave (TSC-I) was held at the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi from 11th to 14th of December, 2010. A detailed report on TSC-I is in the enclosure. This fund proposal is for the organization of another conclave proposed to be held in the month of December, 2012.
The aims and objectives of Tibetan Science Conclaves are:
- To provide a platform where Tibetans in scientific fields (students/professionals) can interact and exchange ideas with the larger scientific community at both national and international levels.
- To provide opportunities for interaction and exchange of scientific ideas among Tibetans in various scientific fields (students/professionals).
- To encourage young Tibetan students to pursue exciting and innovative researches in science.
- To discuss issues related to the development of science and technology within the Tibetan community that will assist Tibet’s present and future.
TS2 proposes to hold its second conclave (TSC-II) in the month of December, 2012. The proposed venue is Bangalore, Karnataka, India and the exact time of the conclave is yet to be confirmed. Following is the tentative program for TSC-II:
- Participants will have one day educational visit to one of the reputed research laboratories in Bangalore. At TSC-I, our participants visited the reputed Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
- Scientists based in Bangalore will be invited to give lectures related to their respective research fields.
- A ‘Science Project Contest’ will be held among the Tibetan science students from different parts of the country at the sidelines of the conclave events. Participants will be encouraged to give poster-presentations on their respective scientific fields of interest. Winners in both the contests will be recognized with prizes.
- Inner Science or the Science of Mind is gaining increasing attention from scientific communities. TS2 will invite an expert to highlight the convergence of modern science and ancient wisdom of Buddhist Science.
- A Tibetan exile policy maker will also be invited to present and discuss issues related to science and technology faced by Tibetan communities in India.
- Also on the cards is a talk by a Tibetan medical practitioner on legal scientific issues of marketing traditional Tibetan medicine.
- Tibetans who have PhDs or are currently pursuing PhDs in scientific fields will be invited to share their research experiences. Questions such as, “what is research” and, “how does one enroll in a PhD program”, will be discussed candidly."
Who can participate?
Any Tibetan pursuing a graduate or an undergraduate degree in any scientific discipline can participate in this conclave. However, TS2 can only afford the total expense of 30 selected participants. Five Tibetan school students will be exclusively invited to participate in this conclave. Nonetheless, with a very reasonable registration fee, the conclave will be open to all other interested people.
An appeal
TS2 is a non-profitable and non-governmental organization without a permanent financial supporter. As was done for the organization of TSC-I, we are relying on individuals or organizations to fund specific projects with a specified fund requirement. Based on the estimated expenditures and the actual spending in a particular project, we send out project reports to all our financial supporters.
For the proposed TSC-II, the estimated expenditure is Indian Rupees 260,000.00/-(Two hundred and sixty thousand). The details of the expected expenditure are in the enclosure for your reference.
The TSC-I was a success due to timely arrangement of the required fund.We appeal to individuals or organizations to kindly donate. The successful organization of TSC-II will depend to a great extent on your generous support. We would be highly appreciative if you could contact us before 1st August, 2012.
