Author: G.V. Pavan Kumar

Namaste, Hola & Welcome from G.V. Pavan Kumar. I am a Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India. My research interests are : (1) Optics & Soft Matter: Optically Induced Forces – Assembly, Dynamics & Function; (2) History and Philosophy of Science – Ideas in Physical Sciences. I am interested in the historical and philosophical evolution of ideas and tools in the physical sciences and technology. I research the intellectual history of past scientists, innovators, and people driven by curiosity, and I write about them from an Indian and Asian perspective. My motivation is to humanize science. In the same spirit, I write and host my podcast Pratidhvani – Humanizing Science.

Conversation with Devapriya Chattopadhyay

Devapriya Chattopadhyay is a paleobiologist and marine ecologist who studies how marine organisms respond to their environment over ecological and evolutionary timescales. We explore her intellectual journey from Bengal, Mumbai, Michigan, Kolkata and Pune.

She is a professor in the Earth & Climate Science department at IISER Pune: http://sites.iiserpune.ac.in/~devapriya/

Her research focuses on shelled molluscs, using a combination of fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and statistical modelling to investigate predator-prey dynamics, fossil records, and modern distributions along the Indian coast.

Listen as we humanize science.

Spotify:

Apple and Google podcast

References :

  1. “Home | Devapriya.” n.d. Accessed May 21, 2024. http://sites.iiserpune.ac.in/~devapriya/.
  2. “‪Devapriya Chattopadhyay – ‪Google Scholar.” n.d. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=uYcuqt0AAAAJ&hl=en.
  3. “Devapriya Chattopadhyay – IISER Pune.” n.d. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://www.iiserpune.ac.in/research/department/earth-and-climate-science/people/faculty/regular-faculty/devapriya-chattopadhyay/250.
  4. “Devapriya Chattopadhyay (@Devapriya_Chat) / X.” 2024. X (Formerly Twitter). May 10, 2024. https://x.com/Devapriya_Chat.
  5. IISER Pune Science Activity Centre, dir. 2022. Rocks Full of Life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N11vzrQtcZs.
  6. NPTEL-NOC IITM, dir. 2023. Course Structure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQz3J1VMF1Q.
  7. “The Evolution of the Earth and Life – Course.” n.d. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc23_ce54/preview.

Conversation with Arnab Mukherjee

Arnab Mukherjee is a professor of chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, India. He is also associated with the Data Science Department at IISER Pune.

His webpage : https://www.iiserpuneccblab.com/

In this episode, we go into granular details about his educational experiences and how he got interested in science. He highlights how chasing marks turned from a boon to a curse with a stunning narrative of his student career. There are some profound lessons to learn from his experiences.

 His research interests include computational chemistry and biophysics. Specifically, he and his group work on “various topics ranging from drug-DNA intercalation, DNA structural change, single water entropy, protein folding and protein-DNA binding, dynamical recrossing and internal friction in proteins and machine learning. He also collaborates with experimental colleagues in projects such as synthetic ion channels, spectroscopic investigation of molecular recognition, etc.”

Listen as we humanize science.

on Apple and Google podcast

References :

Why do people climb mountains?

When I was growing up, I always wondered about this.   If the aim was to go to the top of the mountain, why not just take a helicopter and reach the summit?  Then, I gradually realized that people climb mountains for a different reason: happiness through temporary pain.  This transient, painful process of climbing motivates people to take up the challenge.  If you look at the amount of time a climber spends on reaching the summit, it will be minuscule compared to the climbing time.  The elaborate process and the preparation make climbing not only an adventure but also a meditation.  There is joy in reaching the summit, but happiness comes from the climb, which starts as a painful step.  Joy, in that way, is temporary. The climb, which is the process, is the happiness. 

Then, can the climber focus on the climb and forget about the summit and destiny?  Over the years, I have realized that any journey requires a point of reference, a temporary destiny.  It tells the climber roughly which direction they must head towards to reach the summit – destiny.  However, once this reference point is decided, it is better to forget about the summit and focus on the next step.  Interestingly, each step becomes a mini-goal, keeping the motivation alive.  The way to reach the summit is through multiple steps.  Therefore, it is the repetition of steps that makes the journey.  Even as they approach the summit, it is only through the individual step that they reach it.  As they reach the summit, what has taken up the climber is still a tiny step.  But this step was preceded by another step, and another preceded that.  Then, they realize these steps are permanent, and the summit is a temporary stop.  There is the realization that the summit is transient and the steps are permanent.  Somehow, a tiny bit of discomfort with each step culminated in happiness.  A transformation has happened.    

Conversation with Dibakar Roy Chowdhury

Dibakar Roy Chowdhury is a professor of physics at Mahindra University. https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/faculty/prof-dibakar-roy-chowdhury/

With a rich background in research, including stints at prestigious institutions like Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Australian National University, Dr. Roy Chowdhury has significantly contributed to our understanding of light-matter interaction at the micro-nano scale. Listen to this ‘Emergence’ series, where we explore his groundbreaking research in metamaterials, plasmonics, and more through his academic journey until now. Specifically, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of doing experimental research at a private university in India.

Listen as we humanize science.

Apple and Google podcast

References :

  1. “Dibakar Roy Chowdhury.” n.d. Mahindra University. Accessed May 14, 2024. https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/faculty/prof-dibakar-roy-chowdhury/.
  2. “‪Dibakar Roy Chowdhury – ‪Google Scholar.” n.d. Accessed May 14, 2024. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=63q8bcwAAAAJ&hl=en.
  3. “Dibakar r Chowdhury (@DibakarRC) / X.” n.d. X (Formerly Twitter). Accessed May 14, 2024. https://twitter.com/DibakarRC.

Election in Pune and Zero shadow day

Today is election day in Pune (Lok Sabha), and I voted.

Today is also a ‘zero shadow day’ in Pune. The sun is exactly over our head (zenith), and no angle is subtended by the shadow. In the pic, the sun is captured at its zenith.

Caution: don’t look at the sun directly. This image was captured wearing filtered glass

Check the webpage of the Astronomical Society of India linked below. It has some good explanations and geographical locations in India where zero shadow day is observed.

Zero Shadow Day

Conversation with Sundar Sarukkai

Sundar Sarukkai is a philosopher who specializes in the natural and social sciences.

His webpage : https://www.sundarsarukkai.in/

As a professor and visiting faculty at various institutions, he has made significant contributions to the field. Sarukkai is the author of numerous books, including “Philosophy for Children,” “Translating the World,” “Philosophy of Symmetry,” and “What is Science?” He has also co-authored works exploring Indian philosophy, caste, and democracy. Sarukkai is the founder of Barefoot Philosophers, an initiative to bring philosophy to children and the public. With his diverse expertise and passion for accessible philosophy, Sarukkai is a captivating thinker in the intellectual landscape.

Listen, as we humanize science.

Note: The audio in the first 10 min is of lower quality

References :

  1. “Sundar Sarukkai, Philosopher, Writer | Barefoot Philosophers.” n.d. Sundar Sarukkai. Accessed May 4, 2024. https://www.sundarsarukkai.in.
  2. Barefoot Philosophers, dir. 2024. A Conversation with Sundar Sarukkai – Philosophy of Science Workshop (2024). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XszjdsCvCV4.
  3. Christ University, Bangalore, dir. 2023. Dr Sundar Sarukkai Talk on Philosophy and Literature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tL1GbPYkfs.
  4. DC Books, dir. 2024. The Cracked Mirror: An Indian Debate on Experience and Theory | Sundar Sarukkai | Babu Thaliath |KLF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMMoI0ZQgS0.
  5. Toor, Sanchit. 2023. “‘The Challenge Was to Produce a Language, Not Just Use What Is Accepted as Correct’: Sundar Sarukkai.” Text. Scroll.In. https://scroll.in. April 22, 2023. https://scroll.in/article/1047684/the-challenge-was-to-produce-a-language-not-just-use-what-is-accepted-as-correct-sundar-sarukkai.