A set of four popular science books published by Vigyan Prasar was launched on May 29. The books cover topics ranging from discovery of cholera toxin to climate change in the Antarctica.

Releasing the books at a function at the Indian National Science Academy, Department of Science and Technology (DST) secretary Dr Ashutosh Sharma underscored the importance of science communication and expressed hope that the newly released books on popular science will help in further promoting scientific temper in the country. He emphasised the need to make the best use of different digital platforms to market popular science books.

In `Voyage to Antarctica’, Dr. Felix Bast from Bhatinda-based Central University of Punjab has chronicled his experience as a member of the 36th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) during 2016-17 and dwelt on importance of the icy continent from an international standpoint. He narrates various efforts being made by countries across the world to study and understand it.

" Dr Ashutosh Sharma underscored the importance of science communication and expressed hope that the newly released books on popular science will help in further promoting scientific temper in the country. "

`An Autobiography of Moon’, written by Ramesh Shishu, explores mysteries surrounding the moon beginning from its very origin to how it changes its shape daily. The book is in autobiographical style: it is as if moon is talking about itself. The third book - `Story of Consciousness’ – derives from multiple disciplines like biology, neuroscience, psychology, semiotics, linguistics, philosophy and even theology related to human consciousness. It has been penned by Govind Bhattachariya, a retired bureaucrat.

The fourth book is on Dr. Sambhu Nath De, eminent scientist whose discoveries radically altered the basic understanding of the pathogenesis of cholera and played a pivotal role in discovering cholera toxin. In research in the 1950s De had worked in search of the toxin that caused cholera. The author, Dr. M.S.S. Murthy is a former scientist of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

Dr Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, said popular science books play an important role in science popularization, particularly among the young.
India Science Wire