The exhibition ‘Critical Zones: In search of a common ground’ urges visitors to contemplate innovative ways of coexisting with other life forms for a sustainable future on Earth. The travelling exhibition is on display at Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) from February 16 to 17 March 2024. Sindhu M, a PhD student at IISc, shares her experience of visiting this exhibition at SGB.
Posted on in Science Communication, Science, Outreach & Events
The 16th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2024) is scheduled to take place from 11 to 15 March 2024 in central India at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. We interviewed the YIM 2024 organisers: Karishma Kaushik, IndiaBioscience; Lipi Thukral, IGIB, New Delhi; Ragothaman M. Yennamalli, SASTRA Deemed to be University; Varun Chaudhary, IISER Bhopal; and the IndiaBioscience team. We asked them a few questions about the upcoming meeting, and here is what they had to say.
In the intriguing world of Science Gallery Bengaluru’s exhibition, CARBON, an ongoing experiment by researchers from the Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, broadly relates to the question of the origins of life from non-living sub-components. Jīvāṇu, as this exhibit is named, is a replicative study based on a previous study by Indian researchers to determine whether simple chemicals can form the building blocks of life, thereby giving rise to a precursor of living cells.
Receiving a certificate of excellence after an immersive learning experience or a job well done can be quite gratifying. But is a free-for-all distribution of certificates without evaluating the recipients justified? Are we chasing (or worse, fueling) a culture where certificates seem to trump learning gains? This article highlights the systematic spread of falsehoods associated with certificates in the Indian education system and the ways in which students can be protected from it.
The Crafting Your Career (CYC) program started at IndiaBioscience in 2019. Its goal was to raise awareness among life science students and postdoctoral researchers about the different science careers in India, to help them identify their true calling and develop skills to navigate their career paths with confidence. Earlier this year, we did a survey to assess its impact on the participants of the program and received an overwhelming response. Here is the story of the genesis of CYC and its impact.
Earlier this year, IndiaBioscience organised the first virtual Young Investigators' Meeting (YIM), owing to the pandemic. The event’s resounding success bespoke the enterprising strides IndiaBioscience undertook to continue providing a unique opportunity for young investigators and postdoctoral fellows from across the globe. They networked with mentors and experts to explore navigating the setting up of an independent research group in India. Here is a report on the highlights of the online event.
Scientists are increasingly lobbying for non-animal models for biomedical research, given that subtle genetic differences between humans and animals can lead to pronounced differences in disease severity. Advanced technologies such as organs-on-chips are showing potential to make biomedical research more human-relevant. Surat reports on a recent virtual event that initiated a dialogue on the possibilities and challenges of implementing human-relevant models and frameworks in India.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Policy & Events