Attempt to formulate your ‘moral’ views on the practice of science. Imagine yourself stumbling upon a discovery, which has great academic interest but is certain to have nothing but dangerous consequences for the human society. How, if at all, will you resolve your dilemma ?

India has had a long and unbroken tradition of great scholarship — in mathematics, astronomy, linguistics, logic and ethics. Yet, in parallel with this, several superstitious and obscurantistic attitudes and practices flourished in our society and unfortunately continue even today — among many educated people too. How will you use your knowledge of science to develop strategies to counter these attitudes ?

Read the paragraph given below. Based on the paragraph and your acquired knowledge and understanding, answer the question. ''A traditional strategy for the protection of biodiversity has been in practice in India and some other Asian countries dimensions protected by tribal communities due to religious sanctity accorded to them. The sacred forests represent islands of pristine forests and have been free from all disturbances, though these are frequently surrounded by highly degraded landscape. In India, sacred forests are located in several parts e.g. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Meghalaya etc and are serving as refugia for number of rare, endangered and endemic taxa.'' a. In India which are the major locations of sacred forests? b. By considering a sacred forest in your local area, list any two ecological significances of sacred forests. c. Due to the religious sanctity, sacred forests are protected to a certain extent. Do you agree? Justify your opinion.