Sunday, February 19, 2012

Dr M.K. Rajakumar on science as a way of life

In 1983, Dr. M.K. Rajakumar ''( 1932'-'2008 )'' presented a lecture very strikingly titled Science as a Way of Life at the Symposium on Science in National Development in the Serdang campus of the then Universiti Pertanian Malaysia '( since re-named Universiti Putra Malaysia ). 'It is an inspiring reflection and the note is now included in Tan Pek Leng''s An Uncommon Hero: M.K. Rajakumar in Medicine & Politics ('Petaling Jaya, SIRD, 2011). Certainly, it is still worth reading and reflecting on as our country is facing a crisis of sharp decline of interest in science among a huge number of teens and youths 'in the educational system. Educated in the 'hard science' of medicine, Dr. Rajakumar further self-improved with ''soft sciences'' as a political leader and social activist.