Columns

• Learning bioreactor design using a frugal science approach

  

  A laboratory can be a great place for experiential learning. However, using set protocols and kits can deprive students of this opportunity and make them disengaged learners. In this article, Tejaswini Panchpor, an educator from Dr Vishwanath Karad’s MIT World Peace University, Pune shares a frugal science approach to provide experiential learning to students and stimulate their creativity.

  Posted on Apr 22, 2024 in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Education, Teaching & Undergraduate

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• Catching food freshness in real time: An undergraduate biology experiment

  

  Food spoilage is covered in undergraduate biology courses with limited scope for practical experience. This article describes a simple module that not only helps students explore the topic experimentally but also develop a deeper understanding of various scientific concepts and gain experience in design thinking.

  Posted on Nov 24, 2023 in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Undergraduate, Research & Education

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• A project-to-publication experience for a remote, student-led team during the pandemic

  

  In this article, Shreeya, Stutee and Karishma recount their experiences on working remotely on a new research area during the pandemic, the former two as students and the latter as mentor. Their project led to a publication. Biofilm-AMP is a now a published structural and functional repository of AMPs for biofilm studies. The work was also published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

  Posted on Dec 27, 2021 in Microbiology, Bioinformatics, COVID-19, Personal Experience & Research

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• Tackling antibiotic resistance

  

  How do bacteria develop antibiotic resistance (ABR)? What are its consequences to human health and economy? What are the factors that contribute to the rise in ABR? Have any steps been taken to combat this global crisis? How do we promote awareness amongst people? In this article, Mousumi Saha addresses these questions.
  

  Posted on Nov 22, 2021 in Health & Medicine & Microbiology

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• Foldscope events in India: the Northeast photoblog

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKWRjbSwbTc

  The Foldscope—literally a folding microscope—has changed the way we view the world around us. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Prakash Labs, Stanford University organised a series of workshops in an initiative to bring the Foldscope to India.

  Posted on Mar 16, 2016 in Microbiology, Ecology, Cell Biology, Teaching & Outreach

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• Bacteriophages: Beacon of hope amidst the sea of superbugs

  

  2015 was the year of the phage—it marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the phage. Urmi Bajpai talks about her induction into the phage community and proposes that activities and simple experiments around phages should be included in school and college curricula.

  Posted on Jan 18, 2016 in Health & Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Teaching, Personal Experience & Undergraduate

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• Celebrating a hundred years of bacteriophages

  

  Sankar Adhya from NIH, speaking at a special session on 100 years of phage discovery, gives a historical overview of “the discoveries and personalities in bacteriophage research”.

  Posted on Jan 02, 2016 in Microbiology & Science History

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