Jaipur: Rajasthan's Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday has emphasised the need for more concrete steps to be taken to promote scientific research in the country.

Raje was speaking at the inauguration of the 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (Quark Matter 2008) here.

The conference would discuss and showcase progress that is being made toward understanding the properties of nuclear matter at the highest energy densities (quark-gluon plasma or quark matter).

The chief minister said the objective of scientific research should be effective and easy solution of the problems of the common man.

"Due to scientific research in the field of medical sciences, better implements and aids could be made for the physically challenged people. Similarly, the improved seeds and the development of diseases resistant variety of crops were the result of scientific research in agriculture sector," Raje said.

Raje said that the research tradition in India was as old as its civilization.

Right from the scientists in the 5th Century AD such as Aryabhatt, Bhaskar to the scientists in the present age like C.V. Raman and S.N. Bose have contributed significantly in their fields, she said.

Raje suggested that research works could be promoted through the medium of better research institutes, laboratories and equipments.

Over 400 scientists from India and abroad including eminent scientists like M.G.K. Menon and Carlo Rubia are attending the conference, which will continue till Jan 10. IANS

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