Science needs democracy to flourish: Nobel Laureate

Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover emphasizes the importance of democracy in science for progress and innovation.

Science needs democracy to flourish as researchers and scientists can work freely, Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover said.

Delivering a special address at the inaugural of ProUPS (Proteostasis & Ubiquitin Proteasome System) conference held recently at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Prof. Ciechanover said an open environment was crucial for scientific progress. He also discussed the history of ubiquitin and the crucial role of intracellular protein degradation in quality control, cellular processes, and differentiation.

The conference, themed ‘Cellular Symphony: Decoding Protein Homeostasis in Human Health’, focused on protein homeostasis, its impact on human diseases, and drug discovery. The event was organised by the Division of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, at the SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, in collaboration with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru.

In his special address, L.S. Shashidhara, Director of NCBS, Bangalore, emphasised the value of interactions outside the lecture hall. T.R. Paarivendhar, Founder-Chancellor, SRMIST, encouraged the students to take full advantage of such opportunities to learn and grow.