Columns

• The “Hunger Games” of college education: Unhealthy competition over collaboration

  

  It is perhaps too well known to students, parents and educators alike that the Indian higher education system is highly competitive. While some competition may be unavoidable, the question is - are some aspects of this competitive environment unnecessary, or even toxic? In this article, biology researcher and educator Anil Kumar Challa, from the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi NCR presents a perspective on why a collaborative environment is better than a competitive one.

  Posted on Jul 15, 2024 in Science, Training, Career Development, Policy & Undergraduate

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• One Health Bengaluru: A united approach to tackle health and environmental concerns

  

  One Health Bengaluru Initiative, led by the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster (BeST), aims to minimise the spread of infectious diseases and benefit the environment by collaborating across several organisations. This multi-sectoral approach will help policymakers make informed decisions to control the spread of diseases and tackle environmental challenges. This article explores how the One Health approach paves the way for a healthier future.

  Posted on Jun 28, 2024 in Science, Policy, Research & Entrepreneurship

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• Shining a spotlight on academic integrity: A conversation with Sabuj Bhattacharyya

  

  Sabuj Bhattacharyya is the Research Ethics and Integrity Officer at the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (BRIC-inStem), Bengaluru. In this interview, he speaks to Bharti Dharapuram, an ecologist and science writer, about the multiple facets of research ethics, the joys and challenges of teaching it, and building a more mindful research culture.

  Posted on May 20, 2024 in Training, Policy, Teaching & Ethics

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• Does your passport influence your science in the Global South?

  

  How are researchers from the Global South doing in terms of their counterparts in the West? From limited visibility due to many reasons to the complex issue of restricted mobility, this article by Debraj Manna, a PhD student at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, discusses the multifaceted factors affecting the scientific community from Global South.

  Posted on May 13, 2024 in Science, Career Development, Policy & Networking and Collaboration

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• Recognition of preprints in research assessment frameworks in India

  

  Open science, particularly through preprints, is gaining global traction and is integral to India's Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy. While preprints offer accessibility benefits, their adoption in India lags, highlighting the need for recognition and incentives at various career and funding assessment levels. In this article, Sudeepa Nandi, an ASAPbio fellow and a PhD student at TIFR Mumbai, discusses the barriers to the preprint model in India and offers some key recommendations.

  Posted on May 06, 2024 in Policy & Ethics

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• Digital podiatry clinic - Footprints of progress

  

  The Digital Podiatry Clinic (D‑PoC) is a unique effort aimed at early screening and management of diabetic foot disorders. DPoC project is a collaborative effort of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology and Research (KIER), and FootSecure. It is one of the projects of Bengaluru Science and Technology cluster (BeST), an initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
  

  Posted on Apr 08, 2024 in Science, Policy, Research & Entrepreneurship

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• The National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 – the ‘what’ and the ‘how’?

  

  The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 in India aims to enhance research funding in universities and colleges, yet concerns persist regarding its autonomy and operational effectiveness. In this article from our current conversation series, Joel P. Joseph discusses the 'what' and 'how' of the NRF bill.

  Posted on Nov 06, 2023 in Policy, Funding & Ethics

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