By Dr Brij Mohan Sharma
National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February. Messages flow faster than electrons in a conductor. Social media timelines glow with tributes to scientific temper. Laboratories are photographed, instruments being remembered, and scientists, researchers, advisors, and communicators remind society to follow science. We speak of evidence, logic, and rationality. We encourage questioning. We celebrate discovery. Science, today, is not merely practiced—it is celebrated.
But before we advise society, before we speak of scientific temper, and before we celebrate science, there is one uncomfortable but necessary question we must ask ourselves: do we, the people of science, actually practice science in our own daily lives? Do scientists, researchers, science advisors, and science communicators apply the same principles of observation, measurement, verification, and evidence inside their homes that they advocate in laboratories and classrooms? Or does science remain a professional tool, carefully used at work, but respectfully ignored at home? It is easy to speak scientifically. It is easy to teach scientifically. But do we live scientifically?
Let us begin with a simple question. Do you have a lactometer at home? In laboratories, scientists measure density with remarkable precision. They can detect the slightest variation in liquids. They can determine purity, composition, and authenticity. But the milk that enters their home every morning—do they test it? Or does science politely remain outside the door? Is it milk, or is it water wearing the mask of milk? The scientist who questions unknown samples rarely questions familiar ones.
Consider ghee, oil, and spices. Scientists understand fatty acids, oxidation, adulteration, and toxicity. They know how easily purity can be compromised and how silently contamination can harm health. But do they test the ghee they consume? Do they verify the oil they use? Do they question the authenticity of turmeric or chili powder? Or does the printed label replace scientific verification?
Look above you. The LED bulb is glowing. Do you know its actual wattage? Or do you trust what is written on the package without verification? Scientists speak of energy efficiency, sustainability, and responsible consumption. But do their homes reflect these principles? Do they use energy-efficient appliances? Do they monitor their electricity consumption? Do they use solar energy, or is renewable energy merely a topic of academic discussion, never a personal commitment?
Look around your home. Have you ever used a screw gauge or vernier caliper to measure the thickness of your window glass? Do you know whether it is thermally efficient, or merely transparent? What about the plyboard used in your furniture? Do you know its strength, its durability, or its quality? Science teaches measurement. But do we measure our own environment, or do we reserve measurement only for laboratories?
Consider water. Many homes use water filters, proudly believing they are consuming pure water. But do you know how to calibrate your filter? Do you know whether it is functioning correctly? Do you know the TDS of your drinking water? Scientists teach calibration, accuracy, and validation. But do they practice these principles at home, or do they trust machines blindly?
Consider your refrigerator. Do you know its internal temperature? Is it truly preserving food safely, or merely creating the illusion of safety? Scientists understand microbial growth, food preservation, and temperature control. But do they verify their own food storage scientifically?
Consider medicines. Do you carefully check expiry dates? Do you understand that chemical stability changes over time? Or do you consume medicines with faith rather than verification?
Consider your vehicle. Do you know the correct air pressure in your tyres? Physics explains pressure, friction, and efficiency. But do we apply physics in our daily lives, or does physics remain confined to textbooks and classrooms?
Consider air and light. Scientists speak of air pollution and environmental health. But do they ensure proper ventilation and sunlight in their own homes? Do they understand that fresh air and natural light are essential for health? Or do they live in closed environments while speaking of environmental awareness?
Consider food habits. Do you wash raisins and dry dates before eating them? Do you soak fruits to reduce pesticide residues? Do you read labels on processed foods to understand preservatives? Scientists understand microbes, toxins, and chemical exposure. But do they apply this knowledge in their own kitchens?
Consider children. Do you keep mobile phones away from small children? Science clearly explains the effects of excessive screen exposure on developing brains. But do we protect children scientifically, or do we sacrifice science for convenience? Do scientists themselves regulate their own screen exposure? Do they protect their sleep, their attention, and their mental health?
Consider your own body. Do you monitor your blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate regularly? Science provides tools for prevention and early detection. But do we use them, or do we wait for disease to teach us what science already knows?
Consider posture and ergonomics. Scientists understand biomechanics and the importance of proper posture. But do they sit scientifically? Do they protect their spine and their physical health? Or do they allow their body to suffer while their mind pursues knowledge?
Consider sunlight, sleep, and circadian rhythm. Science explains their importance for health and well-being. But do we respect these natural cycles, or do artificial light and digital devices dominate our lives?
The irony is profound. We measure distant stars, but we do not measure the purity of our milk. We analyse complex molecules, but we do not analyse our daily food. We study renewable energy, but we do not use solar energy at home. We teach calibration, but we do not calibrate our own devices. We study biology, but we ignore our own biology.
We proudly call ourselves science students, science researchers, science advisors, and science leaders. But are we science practitioners?
Science is not a degree. Science is not a designation. Science is not a speech delivered once a year. Science is a habit. Science is a discipline. Science is a way of living.
The true scientist does not merely discover knowledge. The true scientist lives knowledge. Science begins with a question: is this pure? Is this safe? Is this efficient? Is this correct? Science demands observation. Science demands verification. Science demands responsibility.
Science is not meant only for laboratories. Science is meant for kitchens. Science is meant for homes. Science is meant for daily life.
Otherwise, National Science Day becomes only a celebration—not a transformation.
And the scientist becomes a scientist only in profession—not in practice.
Perhaps the most powerful scientific instrument is not the microscope, not the telescope, not the spectrometer, and not the solar panel.
The most powerful scientific instrument is a questioning mind.
And perhaps the most important experiment is not in any laboratory.
It is in how scientifically we live our own lives.
(Dr Brij Mohan Sharma, is a National Awardee, ISRO Tutor, Science Communicator and Innovator.)
