Category: podcasts

Conversation with Nirmal Raj

Nirmal is an astroparticle theoretical physicist actively searching for dark matter and its constituents. He is also very passionate about communicating physics to a broad audience.

He is an Assistant Professor at IISc, Bengaluru: http://nirmalraj.wikidot.com/

This episode discusses his intellectual journey from Engineering Physics at IIT to optics, condensed matter physics, particle physics, and dark matter. Through this journey, we learn how he developed an interest in this field and his experience communicating physics via newspaper articles.

Listen…as we humanize science…

Youtube (audio) :

Spotify :

google podcast

apple podcast

References:

  1. “Nirmal Raj @ CHEP.” n.d. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://sites.google.com/view/nirmal-raj.
  2. “RESEARCH – Nirmal Raj.” n.d. Accessed December 1, 2023. http://nirmalraj.wikidot.com/physics.
  3. “Popular Publications – Nirmal Raj.” n.d. Accessed November 29, 2023. http://nirmalraj.wikidot.com/physics:popularpublications.
  4. “What Ho! – Nirmal Raj.” n.d. Accessed November 29, 2023. http://nirmalraj.wikidot.com/.
  5. “Nirmal Raj (@PhysicsNirmal) / X.” 2023. X (Formerly Twitter). January 20, 2023. https://twitter.com/PhysicsNirmal.
  6. Bramante, Joseph, Bradley J. Kavanagh, and Nirmal Raj. 2022. “Scattering Searches for Dark Matter in Subhalos: Neutron Stars, Cosmic Rays, and Old Rocks.” Physical Review Letters 128 (23): 231801. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.231801.
  7. “Daksha.” n.d. Accessed December 1, 2023. https://www.dakshasat.in/.
  8. “DEAP-3600 – Dark Matter Experiment Using Argon Pulse-Shape Discrimination.” n.d. Accessed December 1, 2023. https://deap3600.ca/.
  9. “Nature Unsolved – Nirmal Raj.” n.d. Accessed November 29, 2023. http://nirmalraj.wikidot.com/physics:unsolved.
  10. Raj, Nirmal. 2022. “Names from Greek Myth in Fundamental Physics.” arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2210.10623.
  11. Weinberg, Steven. 2003. “Four Golden Lessons.” Nature 426 (6965): 389–389. https://doi.org/10.1038/426389a.

Conversation with Angshuman Nag

Angshuman Nag is an experimentalist who combines physical and material chemistry to prepare advanced materials such as doped quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals.

He is an Associate Professor at IISER Pune:

https://angshumaniiserpune.wixsite.com/grouppage/current-members

This episode discusses his intellectual journey from Silchar-IIT-Gauhati-IISc/JNCASR Bengaluru-U Chicago- IISER-Pune. Through this journey, we learn how he developed an interest and expertise in material chemistry and his emerging work on perovskite semiconducting nanocrystals and their use in cutting-edge technology.

Listen…as we humanize science…

Youtube (audio):

spotify :

google podcast

apple podcast

References:

  1. “Current Members.” n.d. Grouppage. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://angshumaniiserpune.wixsite.com/grouppage/current-members.
  2. “‪Angshuman Nag‬ – ‪Google Scholar‬.” n.d. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=fAwle2oAAAAJ&hl=en.
  3. “Angshuman Nag (@AngshumanNag4) / X.” 2023. X (Formerly Twitter). November 6, 2023. https://twitter.com/AngshumanNag4.
  4. “HOME.” n.d. Grouppage. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://angshumaniiserpune.wixsite.com/grouppage.
  5. “Dipankar Das Sarma.” 2023. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dipankar_Das_Sarma&oldid=1169361872.
  6. “C. N. R. Rao.” 2023. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C._N._R._Rao&oldid=1184106736.
  7. “Nag.” talk  American Chemical Society. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://www.acs.org/international/india/events/india-science-talk-recordings/nag.html.

Podcast and metrics

I am sceptical about ranks/metrics.
Someone informed me that my podcast was rated highly in a database of science-related podcasts from India. It seems perplexity AI also shows similar results (see images)

My learning: Open-source, non-commercial, individual ventures can have some impact

Let me reiterate :

Value of knowledge cannot be captured entirely using metrics, ranks, views, likes and number of subscribers on social media platforms.

The quality & depth of engagement are hard to measure & the world is nonlinear

I have done zero adverts./marketing 😀


But I must thank
a) ppl who have been guests on the podcast. They have been very generous with their time & knowledge.
b) listeners who engage with long-form content (even when I talk solo😆)
They deserve more credit.

Science zindabad!

Conversation with Jasjeet Singh Bagla

Jasjeet is an astrophysicist exploring the cosmos and is intrigued by the learning process.

He is a Professor at IISER-Mohali: https://web.iisermohali.ac.in/Faculty/jasjeet/index.html

In this 2 hour+ conversation, we discuss his biography – a journey through Agra, Delhi, IUCAA-Pune, Cambridge, Harvard and back to India.

We discuss his work on N-body simulations in the context of cosmology, TreePM, teaching, mentorship and learning process. Also, a short segment in Punjabi.

Listen as we humanize science..

Youtube (audio)

spotify :

google podcast

apple podcast

References :

(1)Welcome to the home page of Jasjeet Singh Bagla. https://web.iisermohali.ac.in/Faculty/jasjeet/index.html (accessed 2023-11-18).

(2)Jasjeet Bagla – ‪Google Scholar. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=LKThFAoAAAAJ&hl=en (accessed 2023-11-18).

(3)Jasjeet Singh Bagla (@jsbagla) / X. X (formerly Twitter). https://twitter.com/jsbagla (accessed 2023-11-18).

(4)Jasjeet Bagla – Professor – IISER Mohali | LinkedIn. https://in.linkedin.com/in/jasjeet-bagla-9665a714 (accessed 2023-11-18).

(5)Jasjeet Singh Bagla : me, my life, and all that.https://web.iisermohali.ac.in/Faculty/jasjeet/me.html (accessed 2023-11-18).

(6)Home – IUCAA. https://www.iucaa.in/en/ (accessed 2023-11-18).

(7)Homepage of Padmanabhan. https://web.iucaa.in/~paddy/ (accessed 2023-11-18).

(8)Institute of Astronomy. https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/ (accessed 2023-11-18).

(9)Home – IISER Mohali. https://www.iisermohali.ac.in/ (accessed 2023-11-18).

(10)Bagla, J. S. TreePM: A Code for Cosmological N-Body Simulations. J Astrophys Astron2002, 23 (3), 185–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02702282.

(11) Bagla, J. S. Cosmological N-Body Simulation: Techniques, Scope and Status. Current Science2005, 88 (7), 1088–1100.

Conversation with Nirmalya Kajuri

Nirmalya is an Assistant Professor at IIT Mandi : https://sites.google.com/view/nirmalya-kajuri/

He is a theoretical physicist and an excellent science communicator who writes in various social media forums. In this ’emergence’ conversation, we discussed his research interest and what draws him towards science communication.

Listen as we humanize science…

youtube (audio):

spotify:

google podcast

apple podcast

References :

  1. X (formerly Twitter). “Nirmalya Kajuri (@Kaju_Nut) / X,” December 26, 2022. https://twitter.com/Kaju_Nut.
  2. “Nirmalya Kajuri.” Accessed November 10, 2023. https://sites.google.com/view/nirmalya-kajuri/.
  3. “Nirmalya Kajuri – Writing and Outreach.” Accessed November 10, 2023. https://sites.google.com/view/nirmalya-kajuri/writing-and-outreach.
  4. “Welcome to Jadavpur University Website.” Accessed November 10, 2023. http://www.jaduniv.edu.in/view_department.php?deptid=80.
  5. “Nirmalya Kajuri – YouTube.” Accessed November 10, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/user/nirmalyaz.
  6. Kajuri, Nirmalya. “Oppenheimer: Remembering the Physics That First Made Him Great.” The Hindu, July 29, 2023, sec. Science. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/oppenheimer-snyder-stellar-collapse-black-hole-formation/article67131932.ece.
  7. “Remembering A.K. Raychaudhuri: Transformed Relativity, Almost Got Fired.” The Hindu, July 21, 2023, sec. Science. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/amal-kumar-raychaudhuri-birth-centenary-general-relativity-iacs/article67097221.ece.
  8. “When Einstein Thought He Was Wrong but Feynman Convinced Physicists Otherwise.” The Hindu, May 30, 2023, sec. Science. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/einstein-gravitational-waves-feynman-thought-experiment/article66900109.ece.
  9. “‪Nirmalya Kajuri‬ – ‪Google Scholar‬.” Accessed November 10, 2023. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=5FJAaF8AAAAJ&hl=en.
  10. Online Talk Series:”A Brief History of Black Holes Physics” by Dr. Nirmalya Kajuri, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPfACaa9VCI.
  11. “School of Physical Sciences-IIT Mandi.” Accessed November 10, 2023. https://sps.iitmandi.ac.in/faculty_personal.php?id=13.
  12. “The Character of Physical Law.” In Wikipedia, October 29, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Character_of_Physical_Law&oldid=1182414252.

Conversation with Srabanti Chaudhury

Srabanti is a theoretical chemist interested in biophysics and chemical physics.

She is an Associate Professor at IISER-Pune.

Her webpage : https://sites.google.com/site/srabantic01/home

In this episode we discuss her:

•biography and career trajectory

•interest in mathematics followed by chemistry

•Work during MSc, PhD and postdoc

•Current research

•Motherhood and her life lessons

•Many other interesting things…

Listen, as we humanize science…

apple podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-27-conversation-with-srabanti-chaudhury-journey/id1687861465?i=1000634068835

google podcast : https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lMTcyMGUwYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/ZmY1YjYwZjEtZjM1Yy00ZWE0LTg5NTctM2IzYjdiZTY2MTU3?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiAu6a-rbOCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

References :

1.“Srabanti Chaudhury.” Accessed November 7, 2023. https://sites.google.com/site/srabantic01/.

2.“Durgapur.” In Wikipedia, November 2, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Durgapur&oldid=1183066399.

3.“The University of Burdwan.” Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.buruniv.ac.in/Demo/index_bucc.php.

4.“Group Members.” Accessed November 7, 2023. https://ipc.iisc.ac.in/~bjc/page3.html.

5.“Home.” Accessed November 7, 2023. https://ipc.iisc.ac.in/~bjc/.

6.“Inorganic and Physical Chemistry.” Accessed November 7, 2023. https://ipc.iisc.ac.in/.

7.Punia, Bhawakshi, Srabanti Chaudhury, and Anatoly B. Kolomeisky. “Microscopic Mechanisms of Cooperative Communications within Single Nanocatalysts.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119, no. 3 (January 18, 2022): e2115135119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115135119.

8.X (formerly Twitter). “Srabanti Chaudhury (@srabantichaudh2) / X,” September 7, 2023. https://twitter.com/srabantichaudh2.

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Conversation with Sourabh Dube

Sourabh Dube is an experimental particle physicist interested in computation and machine learning. He is an Associate Professor at the physics department, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune.

His webpage:  http://sites.iiserpune.ac.in/~sdub:/.

In this conversation, we discussed his

  • Biography, career trajectory,
  • growing up in Pune.
  • His Fergusson College experience, PhD and postdoc time in the USA.
  • His thoughts on
    • Experimental particle physics and its interface with machine learning and computational physics.
    • science outreach initiatives
    • doing science in India and other parts of the world
    • importance of the research group and its communication
  • an interesting segment in Marathi
  • His recommendation – books, arts, sports etc.

Listen, as we humanize science….

youtube (audio) :

spotify :

google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lMTcyMGUwYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/ZTFiNzI5ZTEtZTc2My00Y2RjLThhOTktZWI1MjIzNmE3MWMx?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiYqdGk3qGCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-26-conversation-with-sourabh-dube-punekar-doing/id1687861465?i=1000633286027

References :

  1. Quick Primer on Particle Physics with an Experimentalist!, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylkn-XaW_iA.
  2. आपल्यया वविशयाचचे सवियार्वात लहयान ततुकडचे (The Smallest Pieces of Our Universe) by Dr Sourabh Dube, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTy2sfSxjRo.
  3. “India Research Innovation and STEM Enhancement | (iRISE).” Accessed October 31, 2023. http://irise.org.in/.
  4. “MS-DEED.” Accessed October 31, 2023. https://sites.google.com/acads.iiserpune.ac.in/ms-deed-msfda-iiser-pune/home.
  5. “Fergusson College, Pune.” Accessed October 31, 2023. https://www.fergusson.edu/.
  6. “Rutgers University Department of Physics and Astronomy.” Accessed October 31, 2023. https://www.physics.rutgers.edu/hex/.
  7. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “Berkeley Lab | Delivering Science Solutions for the World.” Accessed October 31, 2023. https://www.lbl.gov/.
  8. “Home | CERN.” Accessed July 10, 2023. https://home.cern/.
  9. “The Large Hadron Collider | CERN.” Accessed July 10, 2023. https://home.cern/science/accelerators/large-hadron-collider.
  10. “Fermilab | Home.” Accessed July 10, 2023. https://www.fnal.gov/.
  11. “Isaac Asimov Home Page.” Accessed October 31, 2023. http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_home_page.html.

Conversation with Kasturi Saha

Kasturi Saha is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay. 

Her research interests include

  • Hybrid quantum systems – cavities coupled to color defect
  • Quantum sensing and imaging with NV-centers in diamond
  • and allied research areas

Her webpage: https://www.ee.iitb.ac.in/~kasturis/index.php/the-team/

In this episode, we discuss an emerging topic in quantum technologies – Nanodiamonds & Quantum Photonics !

Listen as we humanize science…

youtube (audio) :

spotify:

google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lMTcyMGUwYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/NmIyYjdhYTItODM3MC00ZWI3LTgyNGQtNzI3NzVkZTk4MGI4?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjwz9GNk5CCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

apple podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-conversation-with-kasturi-saha-nanodiamonds/id1687861465?i=1000632503730

References :

  1. IIT Bombay. “Kasturi Saha.” Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.ee.iitb.ac.in/webpeople/kasturi-saha/.
  2. “‪Kasturi Saha‬ – ‪Google Scholar‬.” Accessed October 14, 2023. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=4BSdOhUAAAAJ&hl=en.
  3. “P-Quest Lab – Photonics and Quantum Enabled Sensing Technologies Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-Bombay, Principal Investigator – Kasturi Saha.” Accessed October 14, 2023. http://www.ee.iitb.ac.in/~kasturis/.
  4. Barry, John F., Jennifer M. Schloss, Erik Bauch, Matthew J. Turner, Connor A. Hart, Linh M. Pham, and Ronald L. Walsworth. “Sensitivity Optimization for NV-Diamond Magnetometry.” Reviews of Modern Physics 92, no. 1 (March 31, 2020): 015004. https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.92.015004.
  5. “DCMPMS.” Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.tifr.res.in/~dcmpms/venugopal_achanta.php.
  6. Prof. Kasturi Saha’s Talk at IQTI on Quantum Sensing, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX8gNXIczck.
  7. “Saikat Ghosh.” Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/dr-saikat-ghosh.
  8. Shukla, Ashutosh, Sunny Tiwari, Ayan Majumder, Kasturi Saha, and G. V. Pavan Kumar. “Opto-Thermoelectric Trapping of Fluorescent Nanodiamonds on Plasmonic Nanostructures.” Optics Letters 48, no. 11 (June 1, 2023): 2937–40. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.491431.