Positioning in the Pasteur’s Quadrant: Developing Science and Technology Together

Pasteur’s Quadrant [1] is an interesting construction which supposes that 
the pursuit of science has two simultaneous objectives: expansion of 
knowledge together with its applications for betterment of human life. 
This perspective removes the artificial compartmentalization between basic 
and applied sciences, and brings together the generation of knowledge and 
technology on the same footing. In this presentation we discuss our 
efforts at Chemistry Group, BARC to position ourselves in the Pasteur’s 
Quadrant, which have resulted into a good number of societal/industrial 
technologies/products in the spirit of ‘Lab to Land’. 

[1] D.E. Stokes, ‘Pasteur’s Quadrant: Basic Science and Technological 
Innovation’, Brooking Institutional Press (1997). 

About Dr. B.N. Jagatap: 

Dr. B.N. Jagatap joined BARC through 20th batch of training school and did 
his PhD (Physics) from the University of Bombay in 1987. He did his 
postdoctoral research at the University of Western Ontario, Canada during 
1992-94 and worked there as visiting scientist in 1999. During 2000-01, he 
was senior visiting fellow at the Centre for Chemical Physics, UWO, 
Canada. He worked as Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of 
Physics, IIT Bombay during 2008-13. He is Distinguished Scientist and 
Director, Chemistry Group at BARC, Mumbai. He is a Senior Professor of 
Physical and Chemical Sciences, and Convener of Board of Studies in 
Chemical Sciences of Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai. He is also 
Editor of Indian Nuclear Society News. Currently he is involved in the 
coordination of R&D programmes in basic chemistry and chemistry for energy 
(nuclear, solar and hydrogen), health and environment.