A physics professor himself, and someone who has previously served as Dean of Research and Development, Prof. Rao speaks candidly about the state of research funding in Andhra Pradesh, the effort to decentralise lab access beyond Amaravati, the persistent struggle to fund young and mid-career researchers, and — perhaps most passionately — why he believes the fear surrounding subjects like physics has less to do with the subject itself, and everything to do with how it's taught.