基本信息编辑本段回目录
内容简介编辑本段回目录
At the dawn of this scientific revolution, Geek Nation is a journey to meet the inventors, engineers and young scientists helping to give birth to the world's next scientific superpower - a nation built not on conquest, oil or minerals, but on the scientific ingenuity of its people. Angela Saini explains how ancient science is giving way to new, and how the technology of the wealthy are passing on to the poor. Delving inside the psyche of India's science-hungry citizens, she explores the reason why the government of the most religious country on earth has put its faith in science and technology.
Through witty first-hand reportage and penetrative analysis, Geek Nation explains what this means for the rest of the world, and how a spiritual nation squares its soul with hard rationality. Full of curious, colourful characters and gripping stories, it describes India through its people - a nation of geeks.
作者简介编辑本段回目录
简评编辑本段回目录
'GEEK NATION's emphasis on personalities and places provides an engaging introduction for those who want deeper understanding than facts and figures alone can provide.' (New Scientist )
'Many entertaining and informative stories.' (Sunday Times )
'This is an engaging and eye-opening exploration of a subject that traditionally we rely on clichés to understand, providing a much more informed and effective understanding of the progress of Indian technology. Recommended.' (Popular Science )
'With engaging first-hand accounts she explores gleaming technology hubs, visits space centres and labs researching GM crops...you do get a vivid impression of a nation emerging as a scientific contender.' (BBC Focus )
'Saini has a genuine talent for describing science'. (Sunday Times Culture )
'Saini's vivid portrait of hi-tech India reveals a country in a hurry'. (FT Weekend )
'Saini has produced an eye-opening survey of scientists in today's India...Engagingly written and remarkably objective, Geek Nation shatters many myths while not discouraging guarded optimism'. (The Independent )
'Eye-opening, warmhearted and cliché-free, her book gives Indians' minds the respect so often and so easily given to their spirit'. (Wanderlust )
'Saini's vivid portrait of hi-tech India reveals a country in a hurry.'
(Manjit Kumar, Financial Times )印度为什么是"Geek Nation"?编辑本段回目录
印度,已经成长为世界知名的 IT 产业聚集地。女作家 Angela Saini 编写了一本名为《Geek Nation:印度科技如何赶超世界》的书,用自己的亲身经历来探寻这个国家的奥秘。在过去的十几年里,“金砖四国”频频在科技和金融界的,印度被广为人知的是它的呼叫中心,IT 支撑中心,外包开发中心。但是其中也蕴含着不容忽视的事实:印度正在成为一股科技创新的主要力量,并赶超世界顶尖水平。
Fast Company 最近对 Angela Saini 进行了一次访谈,我们节选一些精彩部分。
为什么把印度称为 Geek Nation?
我自己在伦敦长大,你可以发现在伦敦的每一间学校里都有这样的印度学生:非常聪明而勤奋。而且你知道印度的医生和工程师闻名天下,大量地分布在世界各地。奥巴马总统也曾经说过,印度籍人才的持续增长,也是保持美国竞争力的原因之一。
我作为一名科技记者,抱着怀疑的态度对这个国家进行了一次探索,希望用镜头记录下真实的图片。
在你的探索中有什么奇特的经历?
印象最深刻的是,非常多的印度科研人员都持有一种怜悯的态度。他们是本着帮助周围的穷人和弱势群体来做科研。我采访到一位专门研究结核病的人名叫 Sujatha Narayanan ,因为找不到合适的研究样本,而拿自己的身体做实验。在实验的过程中却意外地被结核病菌所感染,最后不得不被送往医院,但这件事并没有减少她对科学的热情。
印度籍工程师和科研人员也会离开西方国家吗?
印度极其鼓励年轻的工程师和科研人员走出自己的国家。一旦他们回国,便带回丰富的经验和专业知识。比如在班加罗尔经常举办年轻工程师和设计师的聚会,这种景象就跟旧金山一摸一样。
印度的薄弱点在哪里?
围绕 IT 外包的模式发展起来的一些公司非常成功,而且造就了一批管理人才。但是印度自己却没有发展出 IBM 和微软这样的大公司。这说明技术创新还没有达到富有竞争力的水平,尽管大公司现在还没有出现,但不意味着印度人不想让它出现。年轻一代人有着更活跃的思维 和创造性,他们有希望。
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