The need for exposing undergraduate students to research and providing them with training in research-oriented scientific thought has been felt for quite some time in India. In this article, four generations of Indian scientists come together to discuss the present status of the undergraduate research ecosystem in India, the changes that have taken place over the last few decades, and the road ahead.

Undergraduate research experience has the potential to suit the needs of learners. A recent study analyses the attitudinal outcomes of college students taking up bench and digital research. Termed Course-based Research Experience or CURE, this pedagogical approach takes the student through a journey of discovery-via-inquiry.

M.M. Chaturvedi, senior faculty at the Delhi University shares his opinion on Draft National Education Policy 2019. He has been involved in the development of Cluster Innovation Centre. He talks about the role that teacher networks could play in contemporary education.

We have Sandra Misquith and M.B. Mandappa from St. Joseph's college, Bangalore. The college is a member of the esteemed DBT Star College scheme. The faculty discusses this scheme and other initiatives that bolster undergraduate research. They also highlight issues that need to be mitigated for a better student research experience.

How do you perceive a social media news of a common snack being made of plastic? Or that fast foods never decay? The new currency notes carrying nano-GPS chips? Test such news before dismissing it (or accepting it) - the experiments are surprisingly simple, rational and logical. An excellent opportunity to instil the practice of enquiry-based learning.