CSTEP’s research appointment is with a select set of technologies. Not technologies per se; goodness knows there are enough science and technology journals, conferences and workshops to promote their findings, but on the consequences of technologies to society through economic growth and human welfare. CSTEP will frequently release summaries of such studies. Such policy briefs are not research papers or even opinion pieces; but a succinct review of the state of the art and of options such technologies provide to society.

The object of the policy briefs is not to present one set of recommendations or another. Instead, they cite a number of options for the policy makers to consider. Some may even envisage drastic policy changes and prove difficult to implement.

The first policy brief is on Nuclear Power. This study has become relevant because of our society’s concern on growing CO2 emissions and of countries’ pursuit for energy security. I am grateful to Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj, Prof S Rajagopal and Shri L V Krishnan, for authoring the first policy brief. In the coming months we hope to publish similar briefs on topics spanning solar power, bio-fuels, batteries, infrastructure and disaster management.

Dr V S Arunachalam
Chairman, CSTEP