Creating A Healthy R & D Culture For The Benefit And Betterment Of All
Recently I happened to attend a forum or conclave on "How to create a healthy environment & better work culture in reputed R & D institutions and National Laboratories" as an invitee which was held at a prestigious National R & D institute in Hyderabad. This particular conclave was held for the benefit of budding scientists & engineers who came in large numbers.
I was surprisingly asked to air/give my views on the vexed topic of interest for which the conclave was held, and considering that it's been a decade since I had literally set my foot in any R & D institute or laboratory, leave alone engaging or participating in R & D projects of national importance, this came as a bolt from the blue for which I wasn't fully prepared or geared to address the vexed issue of creating a better & healthy work culture in R & D laboratories of repute.
Nevertheless I regained my composure and decided to talk straight & talk safe to the budding professionals without mincing any words and without concealing any facts as it concerned the fate & destiny of bright & enthusiastic individuals and promising faces.
This is what I had to pointedly say or rather advise or caution the budding scientists & engineers, who had gathered there in large numbers, without mincing my words and beating around the bush :
● Follow the path laid down by the system in letter & spirit
● Do not try to erratically deviate from the roadmap and guidelines laid down by the system
● Do not try to bring changes to the working atmosphere and work ethics of the system
● Do not try to be an idealist
● Do not try to be a perfectionist
● Walk with the majority
● Talk like the majority
● Follow the path of least resistance
● Remember the fact that you are not here to change the system nor the small group of intellectuals and seemingly absent minded people with inflated egos
● You are here to promote your profile, to guide your destiny, and to ensure a better future for yourself
Finally I found myself compelled and duty bound to say or preach the following gospel to the young & enthusiastic gathering :
" Never join a R & D institution merely for earning money. Never regard your R & D work as a duty to meet the ends but as a golden opportunity to serve the society & mankind. More important is the fact that your R & D work, if meticulously planned and executed properly, will offer an enviable opportunity to learn & realize the liberating beauty of the intellect for your own personal joy/satisfaction and for the profit of the society or community at large to whom your subsequent & significant work will belong ultimately in the long run and in the days to come "
I felt relieved & blessed after the completion of my seemingly TED talk to the budding professionals on ways to build a strong & healthy work culture in R & D institutions of repute for the betterment of all the parties and stakeholders involved
