Monday, 27th August 2007: 3:30 to 5:00 pm,
Auditorium I in Gujarat Science City

The Gujarat Science City is announcing the popular science lecture on the topic "Out of the box thinking for inventive problem solving!' to be delivered by Prof. H. S. Ray, Emeritus Scientist, Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR), Kolkata on the Monday, 27th August 2007.

The lecture is 16th of the popular science lecture series titled as "SCIENCE MATTERS" that aims to bring awareness among the young students, parents,teachers and the media persons about the fascinating world of basic sciences and its promising future. The series deals with topics on frontier areas of science and technology for the spreading of new knowledge and awareness among the students as well as the public at large.

Prof. H. S. Ray will give an interactive talk on an interesting topic in understanding science and scientific thinking. When thinking goes beyond the stereotype - the traditional and well - accepted ideas within fixed boundaries - then it becomes Out of Box. Creative and imaginative persons,especially children, often come up with fantastic ideas but these may not be directed at problem solving. Leonardo da Vinci, the great genius, filled up numerous notebooks with sketches of endless inventions not one of which ever became an innovation to solve a problem. This is an example of 'Out of Box thinking for problem solving'.

Intelligence is a potential and thinking is a skill to use that potential. In life we face basically two kinds of problems. First, there are problems which are well defined. The method of solution is also known and if one has the intellect, one can solve such problems to arrive at unique answers, called "Convergent" and "Hard" (i.e. well defined shape) problems. These are discussed in schools and collages. The second type of problems is ill-defined, 'Soft' and divergent, the method of solution is unclear and is not unique. Many such problems involve human and social factors. For solution of divergent problems it is first necessary to define the problem as far as possible and identify parameters which can be measured to describe the problems quantitatively. It is only when something can be defined and measured that it can be analyzed, controlled and improved.Solution to many problems create fresh problems i.e. there are constraints and contradictions. Inventive problems solving find attempts to eliminate constraints. There are some universal principles known as Theory of Inventive Problems Solving (TIPS which is TRIZ in Russian). 

Prof. Hem Shanker Ray is an eminent scientist, academician, philosopher and science communicator having M.A.Sc (1963) and Ph.D (1966) in Metallurgy from University of Toronto, Canada.   His areas of interest include Process metallurgy, Thermal analysis and Kinetics, Energy and Environment, R & D Administration and Popular Science. He has guided about 20 M.Tech students and conference proceedings, 6 text books, 4 popular science books, 60 popular science a articles, numerous editorials and general articles.
The interaction on 'Out of the box thinking' will explore many more examples and experiences by the eminent scientists and philosopher who will provide a step-by-step method of creative thinking with prescribed techniques that can be used consciously.

We invite one and all to attend the programme at Auditorium I in the Science 
City.

With warm regards.  
Ashok V. Mehta
Executive Director
GUJARAT SCIENCE CITY
Capturing New Heights in Science Literacy!