Research must rest on curiosity and evidence, says CSIRO scientist Anantanarayanan Raman at SRM University-AP

Scientific research must be driven by curiosity, rational thinking, evidence and a willingness to question established assumptions, said Anantanarayanan Raman, Senior Scientist (Health and Biosecurity) at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Perth, Australia.

Delivering the 26th University Distinguished Lecture at SRM University-AP, Amaravati, on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), Mr. Raman spoke on “From Curiosity to Discovery: The Power of Scientific Inquiry” and said systematic observation, questioning, reasoning and evidence transformed curiosity into scientific knowledge.

“Research must be grounded in rationality, reasoning and evidence,” he said, stressing that intellectual openness did not mean accepting every new idea uncritically. Rather, he said, researchers should examine new possibilities objectively and be prepared to revise their understanding when evidence warranted it.

Mr. Raman described scientific inquiry as an iterative process in which answers generate fresh questions and discoveries open up new avenues of investigation. He said curiosity and discovery remained fundamental drivers of scientific progress, while logic and epistemic openness were essential for evaluating evidence and challenging assumptions.

The lecture drew on Mr. Raman’s academic and research experience in agricultural ecology, forestry, ecological entomology, plant pathology, nematology, sustainability and sustainable land management. His work, particularly on insect-plant interactions, has received international recognition, including the Fulbright and DAAD awards.

SRM University-AP Vice-Chancellor Ch. Satish Kumar said curiosity was at the heart of research and that researchers could sometimes become overly focused on publication outcomes. Mr. Raman’s lecture, he said, provided an opportunity to return to the fundamentals of scientific inquiry. He also acknowledged Mr. Raman’s contributions as an educator and mentor and his emphasis on nurturing student success.

Ranjit Thapa, Professor and Dean (Research), SRM University-AP, said the University Distinguished Lecture Series gave students and researchers an opportunity to engage with eminent scholars and learn about the experiences, challenges and journeys behind distinguished academic careers.

Registrar Vinayak Kalluri, UDL convener J.P. Raja Pandiyan, Sreenath Subrahmanyam, Vishnupad, Dean of the Easwari School of Liberal Arts, faculty members, researchers and students attended the lecture.