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10 Dec 2019
From the IBS Desk
Dear Readers,
The year is drawing to a close, and we are currently putting together a special year-end newsletter that will highlight our best stories of 2019. We hope you will enjoy going through this special edition; expect it in your inboxes in the last week of December.
In the meanwhile, the next Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2020) is just around the corner and we have begun the third edition of our “Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI)” series. In the latest articles in this series, young researchers write about the pros and cons of doing a postdoc in India, the unique challenges of doing research in a private institute, and the influence of the DST INSPIRE fellowship on one’s scientific career. You can find all these stories linked below.
This month, we also continued our column series on mental health, discussing the culture of silence that pervades academic spaces when it comes to mental health, and the steps an undergraduate college has taken to bring this conversation to the forefront. Scroll down to find these stories, along with a selection of reports on exciting new research from Indian labs.
If you enjoy these stories, please encourage the authors by leaving a comment below the articles. If you have any suggestions for what we should cover next, or even better, if you would like to write for us, you can write to us anytime at hello@indiabioscience.org, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. We look forward to hearing from you.
And now, here are all the stories we chased in November.
News
Scientists discover a molecule that may help fight Huntington’s disease
Susheela Srinivas
A new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has identified a small molecule drug which shows therapeutic promise against Huntington's disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The molecule prevents the formation of protein clumps or aggregates which are detrimental for the health of neurons.
Infosys Prize winners announced for 2019
Shreya Ghosh
From cell walls to differential equations, cultural history to machine learning, artificial enzymes to anthropology - this year’s Infosys Prize winners represent a wide diversity of research areas and backgrounds.
A hunt for novel antibiotic targets
Keerthi Raj B S
As the problem of antibiotic resistance mounts worldwide, there is a pressing need for identifying and testing novel drug targets. Recently, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and the Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, has identified a protein pathway in an antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain which can be targeted using a small molecule to effectively kill the bacteria.
A low-cost paper-and-plastic device to detect tuberculosis
Joel P. Joseph
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that kills lakhs of Indians every year. Early detection of the disease is key to administering treatment; however, this has been hampered by the fact that current diagnostic techniques are often costly and time-consuming. Now, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, have come up with an inexpensive paper-based diagnostic device for tuberculosis detection.
Mental Health and Indian Academia
Speaking up: Ending the culture of silence
Zill-e-Anam
Zill-e-Anam discusses the culture of silence that prevents many researchers and students from discussing their mental health issues, thus compounding the problem and delaying treatment for those who need it the most.
Lessons from a mental health workshop in an undergraduate college
Charu D. Rawat & Sagnik Das
An important component of fighting the battle against the mental health epidemic is creating accessible forums to raise awareness. Charu Dogra Rawat (Assistant Professor, Ramjas College, University of Delhi) and Sagnik Das (Student, Ramjas College, University of Delhi) write about a two-day workshop in their college which brought to light many of the mental health-related issues that students face, and allowed them to collectively brainstorm solutions on an open platform.
Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI)
My ?‘INSPIRE’d Journey
Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan
Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan is an EMBO Young Investigator and a Wellcome Trust/DBT-India Alliance Intermediate Fellow. She attended YIM2014 as a post-doctoral fellow (PDF) and is an organiser for the upcoming YIM2020. In this invited article, she writes about her experience of transitioning from a DST-INSPIRE faculty fellow to an Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Postdoc in India: a different perspective
Megha Kumar
Megha Kumar is a DST Inspire Faculty fellow at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. She is one of the Young Investigators selected to attend YIM2020 in Mahabalipuram. In this invited article, she writes about how her postdoctoral training in India helped prepare her for an academic career.
Joining a private research institute: challenges and strategies
Amit Agarwal
Amit Agarwal is a Research Scientist at Chest Research Foundation, Pune. He is one of the Young Investigators selected to attend YIM2020 in Mahabalipuram. In this invited article, he writes about the unique challenges faced by a scientist in a private research institute in India, and some strategies that young PIs can use to overcome them.
Education
Strategies for productive faculty-undergraduate research assistant partnerships
Andrea Phillott
Andrea D. Phillott, Professor in Environmental Studies at FLAME University, Pune, Maharashtra, conducts research in the field of marine biology, conservation and education. In this article, she writes about how researchers can effectively engage undergraduate students in research, and how this can benefit both faculty and students.
IndiaBiostreams
In November, we brought you two very special webinars on IndiaBiostreams. In the second webinar of the ‘Science Policy 101’ series, Aditya Kaushik walked us through the history of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies in India so far, followed by a general discussion on the four policy statements.
Meanwhile, Alka Sharma (Scientist G, DBT) and Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, (Chairperson & CEO, IKP Knowledge Park), joined us on the fifth instalment of the interactive webinar series from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. This webinar discussed promoting translational and industrial research through research facilities, resources and technology platforms. If you missed these webinars, you can find the recorded videos for all our webinars here.
Coming up next on IndiaBiostreams is a live and moderated discussion with leading researchers on ethical practices in research. The webinar would be held on Friday, January 10th, 2020, at 3 PM IST. The topics covered will include purity of data, publications and plagiarism. This discussion will be broadly based on the “National Policy on Academic Ethics” document that was issued by the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to Government of India in the year 2019. K VijayRaghavan, PSA, Government of India will give an overview of the importance of research ethics. Register by clicking here.
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03 Jan 2020
Webinar on Research Ethics
Friday, January 10, 2020 | 3 PM - 4 PM IST
IndiaBiostreams is happy to announce a webinar on research ethics on Friday, January 10, 2020 from 3 PM - 4 PM IST.
Join us for a live and moderated discussion with leading researchers on ethical practices in research. The topics covered will include purity of data, publications and plagiarism. This discussion will be broadly based on the “National Policy on Academic Ethics” document that was issued by the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to Government of India in the year 2019.
K.VijayRaghavan, PSA, Government of India will give an overview of the importance of research ethics. This will be followed by a live discussion by Mukund Thattai (NCBS, Bangalore), Sunil Mukhi (IISER, Pune), and Saman Habib (CDRI, Lucknow). The session will be moderated by Rashna Bhandari (CDFD, Hyderabad).
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Webinar on EMBO Fellowships
Thursday, January 16, 2020 | 3 PM - 4 PM IST
As research is progressively occurring in the international arena, India is keen to align with international funding agencies that reflect this shift. This has opened the doors for Indian researchers working in the field of life sciences to a large number of international funding schemes.
IndiaBiostreams, in partnership with Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, is happy to announce the launch of a webinar series on International Research, Training and Mobility Grants Awareness Sessions to discuss such funding opportunities. We begin this series with a look at the EMBO funding schemes open to Indian life science researchers.
Join us for an informational session on EMBO Fellowships featuring presentations and s discussion with experts- Gerlind Wallon (Deputy Director), Bettina Trueb (Senior Project Coordinator) and David del Alamo Rodriguez (Programme Head Fellowships)- from EMBO. The topics discussed will include eligibility, benefits, themes and mentorship opportunities of these schemes.
This session which covers Postdoctoral, Short-term and Advanced Fellowships will be especially useful for senior PhD students and Postdocs.
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28 Jan 2020
Joy and stress triggers: A global survey on mental health among researchers
Dear Reader,
8 million researchers are working on humanity’s most pressing problems, yet they often do so in highly competitive environments, where three-fourths of faculty positions have no job security, only 1 in 8 grant applications makes the cut, and scientific curiosity and career progression scarce find a middle ground. Unsurprisingly, academics are reported to be six times more likely to experience anxiety and depression than the general population.
What about you as a researcher? Does your work environment motivate you? How do you manage your work and personal life? Do you receive enough support from your supervisors? What would you want to see changed in your current environment?
Cactus Communications (a global scholarly communications company) is inviting researchers globally to participate in a large-scale survey that aims to shed light on joy and stress triggers and overall mental health in academia. The results of this survey are expected to push universities and research institutions worldwide to work towards addressing the problem of mental health in academia and creating a more positive research culture. Click here to take the survey.
Take the Survey
Mental Health and Indian Academia
You can read more about mental health and Indian academia in our ongoing column series, where we have been discussing the status of mental health awareness and research in the Indian context, and examining possible strategies and interventions to counter the issue. Here are some articles from this series:
You don’t have to be?‘crazy’ to be doing a PhD! by Hina Lateef Nizami
Wake up academia, it’s a brand new mental health patient by Debdutta Paul
Sowing the seeds of a long-term mental health study in an Indian population by Shantala Hari Dass
Speaking up: Ending the culture of silence by Zill e Anam
Lessons from a mental health workshop in an undergraduate college by Charu D. Rawat & Sagnik Das
Mental Health Fiesta at New Delhi by Hina Lateef Nizami
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11 Feb 2020
From the IBS Desk
Dear Reader,
The 12th Young Investigators' Meeting (YIM) is just around the corner and we hope you have been enjoying the Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) series of articles written by the young investigators attending this meeting. We are looking forward to lots of engaging discussions, new ideas, and brainstorming at the coming meeting, which we will bring to you in the form of a detailed report next month.
11th February is celebrated worldwide as the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Exactly one year ago, we launched 'Spoorthi', an e-booklet celebrating Indian women in science. Spoorthi features conversations with women from many different science professions, touching upon various ideas, issues, challenges, and experiences that are an intrinsic part of being a woman in science in India. In case you haven't seen it yet, you can download a free copy at this link. We hope you will enjoy reading it.
We are also pleased to bring you a new podcast episode in our series on 'Crafting your Career' in science in India. In our latest episode, we chat with Debjani Saha, a Product Manager, on her foray into technical marketing and the business of science. If you enjoy listening to this series, do subscribe and share them with your friends and colleagues.
Also, as you may have heard, Cactus Communications (a global scholarly communications company) is inviting researchers globally to participate in a large-scale survey that aims to shed light on joy and stress triggers and overall mental health in academia. The results of this survey are expected to push universities and research institutions worldwide to work towards addressing the problem of mental health in academia and creating a more positive research culture. Click here to take the survey.
We are always happy to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and opinions on our activities. As always, you can write to us anytime at hello@indiabioscience.org, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
And now, here are all the stories we published in January.
News
Asian elephants respond to dead and dying mates
Garima Singhal
Are humans the only species who respond to the death of loved ones with grieving and distress? Evidence suggests otherwise, and now researchers from the Indian Insitute of Science, Bengaluru, have observed Asian elephants in the wild displaying a variety of behavioural reactions upon encountering the death of other elephants.
A physicist’s take on understanding stem cell differentiation
Anusheela Chatterjee
The question of how stem cells can differentiate to give rise to multiple different cell lineages has fascinated biologists for years. Now, a team of researchers from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai and Ashoka University, Sonepat, have come up with a theoretical model that links the physical properties of the stem cell nucleus to its eventual fate.
Solving the mystery of an orphan enzyme
Gargi Deshmukh
This new study from researchers at IISER Pune delves into the potential biological function of an 'orphan enzyme' using a variety of biochemical, molecular, and structural techniques. Siddhesh Kamat, the Principal Investigator who led this project was recently awarded the EMBO Young Investigators Award as well as the Merck Young Scientist Award.
Moving towards a malaria-free nation
Zill-e-Anam
India is ranked fourth in the world with regards to the number of malaria cases reported per year. A three-day meeting encompassing the 30th National Congress on Parasitology and 1st Global Summit on Malaria Elimination (NCP-GSME) was organized in New Delhi to discuss some latest advances and translational aspects of parasitology research, including strategies for malaria elimination.
Human activities put dolphins at survival risk
Shalini Roy Choudhury
In an on-going effort to convert certain inland waterways into national waterways, many rivers are undergoing commercialization, including the Ganges. This has critically affected the habitat and survival of one of its flagship species, the endangered Ganges river dolphin. A recent study provides empirical scientific data to understand how anthropogenic interventions are impacting the already dwindling population of aquatic animals.
Which plant will dominate the grasslands of central India in 2050?
Aditi Jain
Ozone, the gas best-known for protecting us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, can turn harmful if produced in excess quantities by human activities. A team of researchers from the Banaras Hindu University have studied the effect of elevated ozone on plants that inhabit the lush grasslands of central India.
Columns
Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policies in India: a Flashback
Aditya Kaushik, B. Chagun Basha & Lakshmi Ganesan
Four major policies have been implemented since independence namely, Scientific Policy Resolution (SPR 1958), Technology Policy Statement 1983 (SPR 1958), Science and Technology Policy 2003 (STP 2003), and Science Technology Innovation Policy 2013 (STIP 2013), this article will attempt to give a retrospective on how the STI ecosystem that we see today came into being.
The Machine Learning research revolution
Sumeet Kulkarni
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks - these words have become a part of our day-to-day lexicon over the last few years. Scientists throughout India have started employing machine learning techniques in fields as diverse as biomedical diagnostics and wildlife conservation. In this article, we explore the critical question - Why now? Why has the machine learning boom waited until this last decade to come into its own?
Journey Of a Young Investigator (JOYI)
To be or not to be at the bench
Amit Lahiri
Amit Lahiri is a Senior Scientist at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. In this invited article, he writes about the need for a researcher who has recently set up his/?her lab to balance benchwork with other necessary activities such as writing grants, teaching, and administrative work.
It’s never too late to get back to science
Ujjaini Dasgupta
Ujjaini Dasgupta is an Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University, Haryana. In this invited article, she writes about her experience of returning to active research after spending six years in a different field.
Pursuing science at a liberal arts university
Shivani Krishna
Shivani Krishna is an Assistant Professor at Ashoka University, Sonipat. In this invited article, she discusses her experience working with undergraduate students at a liberal arts University, and the unique challenges and advantages that such a system offers to researchers.
Education
‘Four-Generations’ of scientists discuss undergraduate research in India
The need for exposing undergraduate students to research and providing them with training in research-oriented scientific thought has been felt for quite some time in India. In this article, four generations of Indian scientists come together to discuss the present status of the undergraduate research ecosystem in India, the changes that have taken place over the last few decades, and the road ahead.
Reading popular literature helps build disciplinary literacy - An example from conservation science
Andrea Phillott
Andrea D. Phillott, Professor in Environmental Studies, teaches Conservation Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Studies at FLAME University, Pune. In this article, she writes about an innovative approach she has followed to develop disciplinary literacy in her students viz., assigning them readings from popular literature, both fiction and non-fiction, pertaining to conservation science.
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13 Jan 2020
From the IBS Desk
Dear Reader,
As we welcome the onset of the new decade, we decided to look back over the last year and share with you some of our key achievements and learnings. 2019 was a year of new beginnings and we continued exploring new ways to serve the scientific community by acting as a catalyst to bring change into the culture and practice of doing science in India.
Throughout it all, the response from you, our readers, has been overwhelmingly positive and has pushed us constantly to stretch our boundaries and innovate. We extend our heartfelt thanks to you and hope you will continue to show your support and engage with us in the coming year.
Here are some highlights of our many adventures in 2019.
Looking Back: Some Special Columns
10 Leaders 10 Questions
Through this interview series, we tried to explore the importance of visionary scientific leadership and the attributes that set true leaders apart. In these articles, you will find insights on setting a clear vision, leading teams to success, embracing failure, and more.
Our first three interviewees were Ron Vale, Executive Director, Janelia Research Campus; Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Shahid Jameel, CEO, Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance.
PhD Cafe
PhD students contribute the bulk of the scientific output in the country, yet remain largely unseen and unheard in the popular narrative. Through this series, we hope to provide graduate students with a platform to share their stories, experience, and advice with each other as well as the rest of the scientific community.
Read on to learn more about a woman who earned her PhD while working full time and bringing up two young children, myths perpetuated in graduate student circles, intricacies of the advisor-student relationship, and much more.
Science communication in Indian languages
In a country with 22 official languages and over 700 additional ones, English still remains the language of choice for most mainstream science communication. In this series, we asked some of those individuals who have not allowed language barriers come in the way of communicating science to share their experience and insights.
How did a team of undergraduates come up with a synthetic biology course offered in 26 languages? How did a child from a tiny town in Karnataka go on to build a 40-year long career in science communication? How does a Tamil daily make mathematics accessible to school-children? You can find these stories and more linked here.
Scientific networking and collaboration
Free exchange of ideas, knowledge, and expertise is crucial to the success of any scientific enterprise. Collaboration and networking are, therefore, skills that today's scientists need to learn and nurture in order to make progress on answering some of the most pressing questions of the day.
In this series, we explored various facets of scientific networking and collaboration, including the use of social media by Indian scientists, the role of networking in facilitating a career change, the need for more networking opportunities for Indian science educators, and finally, a guide to networking for introverts.
Mental health and Indian Academia
We are progressively seeing the signs of a burgeoning mental health crisis in academia. In this ongoing series, we have been examining the status of mental health awareness and research in the Indian context, and discuss possible strategies and interventions to counter the issue.
Through these articles, we explored the culture of silence that often prevents sufferers of mental illnesses from speaking up, the normalisation of poor mental health in academic circles, the need for better awareness and understanding of mental disorders, scientific studies of mental health in Indian populations, as well as a few steps in the positive direction, with innovative mental health events being organised in colleges and institutes.
Journey of a Young Investigator
Starting in 2017, we began asking young Indian researchers to share their stories of setting up their labs & becoming independent scientists. In its third year now and with 40+ stories, the JOYI series continues with inspiring tales from around the country. You can find collections of past series here and here, and read the ongoing set of articles here.
Most popular columns of 2019
Making the most of the post-doc experience
Shilpak Chatterjee
Shilpak Chatterjee is a Senior Scientist at the CSIR-Indian Institute for Chemical Biology. In this invited article, he writes about how one can best utilize the post-doctoral training period to have a head start when it is time to set up one’s own independent laboratory.
Welcome to the PhD Clan: perspective from a just-graduated survivor
Jacinth Rajendra
Jacinth Rajendra, a graduate student at ACTREC, Mumbai, writes about the inevitable hurdles and obstacles that arise during a PhD, and the things that make it worth pursuing nevertheless.
Busting a few PhD Myths
Debdutta Paul
Debdutta Paul discusses a few myths often believed and perpetuated by graduate students throughout India, which can prove detrimental to their scientific journeys.
Do’s and Don’ts for a healthy student-advisor relationship
Parul Anup
Parul Anup talks about the expectations that graduate students and Principal Investigators (PIs) have from each other, and how keeping these in mind can help in building a healthy mentor-mentee relationship.
A perspective on the agricultural crisis in India
Fathima Athar
G.V. Ramanjaneyulu is the executive director of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), Hyderabad. Following his PhD, he gave up a well-paying job to establish CSA, a non-profit organisation which aims to find solutions to the crisis that Indian agriculture is in today. In this two-part interview, Ramanjaneyulu explains the causes of the agricultural crisis and the need for sustainable agriculture in our country, as well as the activities of CSA in this regard.
Most popular news of 2019
From students with love: new bacteria named after an Indian microbiologist
Lekha Bandopadhyay
Researchers from North Bengal University, Siliguri, Bose Institute, Kolkata, and Kalyani University, Kalyani, have identified a new genus of bacteria which can degrade a potent neurotoxin that has been responsible for several food-poisoning outbreaks. The researchers have named the new isolate Pradoshia eiseniae, as a tribute to their mentor, the late Indian microbiologist Pradosh Roy.
MANAV- A citizen science based human atlas project
Aditi Jain
The MANAV Project aims to create an open and interactive atlas of human biology, compiling, curating and synthesizing data at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organismic level from scientific literature and public databases. The project was launched in New Delhi on 10 May 2019.
Bug Speaks: A technology from India’s first microbiome company
Yashika Kapoor
In the era of personalized medicine, the human gut microbiota may yield important information about an individual's disease susceptibility - this is the premise for Bug Speaks, India's first microbiome company
“Make in India” biodegradable screws for fixing bone injuries
Titash Mukherjee
In a country where more than 80% of medical devices are imported, IIT Bombay researchers have developed India’s first biodegradable bone screw. The screw is made of a polymer-based biomaterial which contains Magnesium Oxide nanoparticles and silk fibres, and its mechanical strength can be tuned to match the target tissue. As tested in rodents, the screw decomposes reasonably fast and is completely compatible inside the body.
How stem cells retain their ?“stem” ness: The science of staying uncommitted
Aditi Jain
Since their initial discovery several decades ago, stem cells have faced intensive study due to their potential medical applications and fascinating biology. A question that has long interested scientists is how do stem cells continue to remain in an undifferentiated or ?‘uncommitted’ state, unlike every other cell type in the body? Now, a new study from researchers at the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) sheds light on this unique problem.
Our New Initiatives
IndiaBiostreams
IndiaBiostreams?—?webinars by IndiaBioscience, is an interactive medium for science outreach, education and community building. In 2019, we organised five webinars in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, highlighting DBT's various schemes and programs for life science students and researchers in India. We also hosted a couple of webinars in our Science Policy 101 series, where we discussed the science-policy ecosystem in India and science policies implemented in the country in the past.
We have a number of interesting webinars lined up in 2020, including discussions on research ethics and international grants that Indian scientists can avail of, so don't forget to follow our website and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
IndiaBiospeaks
Have you ever wondered how a science illustrator spends her days? Or a science policy professional? An academic researcher, a research manager, or a science communicator? We launched our podcast channel IndiaBiospeaks in late 2018, and throughout 2019, we have been discussing various career options in the science ecosystem in India and providing advice on strategies for career development on this channel. Do check out our first season on 'Crafting your Career' and share with your friends, colleagues and seasons if you find it useful. You may also find us on Apple Podcast / Google Podcasts.
Science Policy Forum
This is a collaborative platform, jointly established by IndiaBioscience, the DST-centre for policy research (CPR), IISc, Bangalore, Sustainable Water Future Programme and Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance. The forum features articles, opinion pieces, events, jobs and grant opportunities in the space of science policy. It also features relevant resources and a discussion space for issues on science policy in India.
Database of Life Science Researchers
This project of mapping the researchers in the life sciences in India was inspired by and is an outcome of the 10th edition of YIM (2018) in Thiruvananthapuram. It was initiated to serve as a resource to help locate and connect the community of Indian life science researchers, including (but not limited to) the past attendees of the YIM series. We hope this database will help foster collaborations and cross-disciplinary interactions within the community
Crafting your Career Workshops
The life science ecosystem in India is evolving into an interconnected and interdependent network which presents a spectrum of career paths and opportunities and there is a need for skilled professionals to fulfil these emerging roles. Our Crafting your Career (CYC) workshops aim to create awareness about the ecosystem and provide the requisite knowledge, tools, techniques to help students identify and navigate a fulfilling career path for themselves. It also aims to redistribute talent and capacity towards creating a healthy, wholesome and thriving life science ecosystem in India.
To catch a glimpse of one of these workshops, check out this in-depth report. You can also learn more about our meetings and workshops on our Activity page.
Regional YIMs
During the 10th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM), a need was felt for stronger local networks within the Indian scientific fraternity. Researchers in Hyderabad led the initiative with the first-of-its-kind Regional Young Investigators Meeting (RYIM) in 2018, with support from IndiaBioscience. In 2019, three other Regional YIMs- at Kolkata, Delhi and Jodhpur- followed the meeting at Hyderabad. The participants highly appreciated each of the meetings as it provided them with a platform not just to share their science but also get to know their neighbouring scientific community.
Our New Publications
Spoorthi
On 11th February, the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, we launched 'Spoorthi', an e-booklet celebrating Indian women in science. Spoorthi features conversations with women from many different science professions, touching upon various ideas, issues, challenges, and experiences that are an intrinsic part of being a woman in science in India. You can download a free copy of Spoorthi at this link. Please share it with your friends and colleagues.
Teaching Graduate Biology
This booklet is a compendium of our popular articles on the topic of higher education. The collection showcases techniques biology teachers use in their classrooms, and their teaching experiences.
You can download the book here.
And More..
Visit our Resource page to view all our publications, including an e-resource booklet on careers in science, collections showcasing the diversity of articles published on IndiaBioscience, compendia of our articles, and more.
Coming up in 2020
As we move into the next decade, we hope to continue following our motto of "Engaging Communities, Enabling Change". We look forward to your support and encouragement throughout this process. In 2020, we will continue to host webinars on IndiaBiostreams, release podcasts on IndiaBiospeaks, bring you new and exciting research stories, discuss issues relevant to Indian science, conduct surveys to understand the pulse of the community, organize events to facilitate networking, mentorship, and capacity building, and keep bringing you updated information on Jobs, Grants, and Events within the Indian science ecosystem through our website.
As always, we can write to us anytime at hello@indiabioscience.org, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. We love hearing from you! Wishing you all a happy, productive and science-filled new year ahead.
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29 Apr 2020
From the IBS Desk
Dear Readers,
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, our lives have changed in ways we had never imagined before. It is only natural to feel scared, stressed and saddened because of it. However, there are measures that we can take to be both physically safe and mentally healthy in these times. This month, we present a range of scientifically-curated resources on COVID-19 to help you stay safe, fight misinformation, keep abreast of the latest scientific developments and nurture your mental health.
In this time of information overload, Gautam Menon's article tries to bust some common myths and rumours associated with COVID-19 in our society. Unlike these rumoured remedies, measures like physical distancing can save lives and Vijeta Raghuram's article explains why. While we stay indoors to slow down the COVID-19 outbreak, the scientific and medical communities charge ahead to find ways to fight the novel coronavirus, as explained in this article by Deepak Sinha. Susheela Srinivas describes one such effort from a group of Indian scientists.
Physical distancing and lockdown do not mean that our lives have to stand still. It is essential to make adjustments in our lifestyle to ensure that staying at home all the time doesn't affect our productivity or our mental well-being. Even though schools, colleges and universities are closed, digital tools highlighted in Charu Rawat's article can ensure that teacher-student engagements remain uninterrupted. You can find all these articles and more linked below.
IndiaBioscience has several resources for you including infographics, webinars, and podcasts to provide scientifically accurate information on COVID-19. We have also partnered with other institutions sharing the same goal; the website COVID-Gyan is one such initiative. We hope you will find these resources useful. Please share them with your family, friends and colleagues.
As always, we are eager to stay engaged with you. You can write to us anytime at hello@indiabioscience.org, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. We look forward to hearing from you. Stay safe.
Mental Health and COVID-19
COVID-19 and Mental Health: ?"It is important to bring in a sense of cohesiveness"
A catastrophe at the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic affects us not only at the physical level but also leaves an indelible imprint on our mental well-being. We spoke to Biju Viswanath, faculty at the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, about possible mental-health-related consequences of the present situation and what individuals and families can do to cultivate resilience.
Infographics on Mental Health
These infographics list helpful strategies for dealing with various mental health issues that may arise as a result of exposure to the stress, uncertainty, and fear associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Click each infographic to see a larger version.
A global survey to promote mental health in academia
IndiaBioscience has partnered with Cactus Foundation to understand what brings researchers joy and what causes them immense stress in their work-life, and what research-associated institutions can do to improve the research culture globally. In the current COVID-19 situation, researchers are being expected to get more done, especially if they are working from home. This is an expectation that refuses to acknowledge the new challenges cropping up in their work and personal lives, even as they simultaneously try to navigate a global crisis. If you're currently involved in research or have been a researcher at some point in your career, please take the survey here.
Article Highlights
Digital Literacy in Midst of an Outbreak
Charu D. Rawat
The COVID-19 crisis and the physical distancing measures to control it have forced educators to connect with their students remotely. As a result, digital tools have become a necessity, not just an accessory, in their pedagogical toolkit. In this article, Charu Dogra Rawat, an educator at Ramjas College, New Delhi, and a digital literacy champion, provides an overview of some of the online platforms and resources that can help educators engage with their students in a bidirectional teaching-learning process, even remotely.
A real-time molecular investigation of coronavirus entry into human cells
Susheela Srinivas
The COVID-19 pandemic has set off a wave of research activities across the world, aimed at finding clues that would allow us to design effective therapeutics and vaccines. In one such effort, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, have initiated a study into the molecular dynamics of the process via which the novel coronavirus attaches to cells of the human respiratory system.
COVID-19: Vaccine development and therapeutic strategies
Deepak Kumar Sinha
While over a million people worldwide are now confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, we do not yet have an empirical cure or a vaccine for this potentially fatal disease. In this article, Deepak Kumar Sinha, Professor at Institute of Biological Sciences, SAGE University, Indore, discusses some of the approaches being taken by researchers around the world to come up with treatment strategies and vaccines for COVID-19.
Going the distance to slow the COVID-19 outbreak
Vijeta Raghuram
A 3-week long nationwide lockdown is an unprecedented experience for most Indians. Recent scientific studies, including one where researchers carried out large-scale mathematical modelling of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, provide insight into why such extreme measures are imperative in current times.
COVID-19: Busting some Myths
Gautam I. Menon
From colloidal silver to essential oils, myths continue to abound on social media about home-grown remedies to treat or prevent COVID-19. We asked Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, Sonipat and Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai to lay some of these myths to rest.
How maths helps us battle the spread of infectious diseases
Susheela Srinivas
Contrary to popular belief, mathematics can be an important ally in our battle against pandemics. Here, we discuss some of the early mathematical models of disease transmission, as well as more modern versions that rely on computer-based simulations and factor in complex parameters. Insights gained from such approaches can be used to inform policy decisions related to novel diseases such as COVID-19.
The public-private healthcare gap in the fight against COVID-19
Joel P. Joseph & Leeba Ann Chacko
As India moves through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and puts containment procedures in place, the need for rapid and widespread testing is becoming more and more critical every day. In such a scenario, it is crucial for the public and private healthcare sectors to combine their forces and coordinate their actions.
Do I need to wear a mask every time I step out of the home? What should I do if I have symptoms of cold/?flu? Is this infection going to stay or disappear? We requested Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, Sonipat and Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, to answer some of the most common questions being asked about the virus and clear up some misconceptions.
COVID-19 Resources
We have compiled here some resources from around the web that can help us learn and understand more about COVID-19 and the present pandemic. As you browse through these, please feel free to share any that you find useful amongst your friends, family, and professional networks. Click on each icon below to learn more.
Initiatives to provide Scientifically Validated Information about COVID-19
COVID-Gyan
This website serves as a hub to bring together a collection of resources in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These resources are generated by public supported research institutions in India and associated programs. The content presented here relies on the best available scientific understanding of the disease and its transmission.
The initiative is the brainchild of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). Other prominent partners include Vigyan Prasar, IndiaBioscience, and the Bangalore Life Science Cluster (BLiSC, which comprises InStem and C-CAMP, in addition to NCBS-TIFR)
Indian Scientists' Response to CoViD-19 (ISRC)
Indian Scientists' Response to CoViD-19 (ISRC) started as a group of Indian scientists who came together voluntarily in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now grown to include more than 500 scientists, engineers, technologists, doctors, public health researchers, science communicators, journalists and a number of students.
India Alliance COVID-19 Resource Hub
DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance has created a hub of resources about COVID-19 developed by India Alliance and its grantees, which is continuously updated. It includes infographics about COVID-19 in multiple Indian languages as well as a series of webinars with experts discussing various aspects of the pandemic.
Podcasts
Conversation with an expert: Understanding the mathematics of COVID-19 spread
In this series, we talk to experts to understand various aspects of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus and research endeavours in this field. Check out this two-part conversation where Shantala Hari Dass (IndiaBioscience, Bangalore) talks to Sitabhra Sinha (Institute of Mathematical Science, Chennai) to understand how to build mathematical models of disease transmission in order to understand the numbers and statistics associated with the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Happy listening!
Grants
Call for Proposals?-?Indo-US virtual networks for COVID-19
Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, Department of Science and Technology
CONTAGION: An exhibition by Science Gallery Bengaluru
Science Gallery Bengaluru
Deadline 30 May 2020
Webinar: Science on the pandemic and science through the pandemic
INSA-INYAS Vigyan Setu Webinar Series
2 May 2020
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24 Mar 2020
From the IBS Desk
Dear Readers,
Amidst this unprecedented situation with COVID-19 that has spread across the globe, we hope that all of you are staying safe and taking good care of your well-being and health. Here is an article about how to monitor and nurture your mental health during a time of crisis like this.
We know that a lot of you may be suffering from information fatigue at the moment. There is so much information as well as misinformation out there that needs filtering before we can assimilate them. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to convey not just the right information to our readers but also to counter misinformation and myths.
We recently published a set of answers to some frequently asked questions about COVID-19, with the help of Gautam Menon (Professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat and IMSc, Chennai), which will soon be available in multiple Indian languages. We plan to bring out a second part soon addressing the various myths that are presently floating around, as well as a series of articles on other aspects of the pandemic.
Please stay engaged with us and if you have some interesting story or narrative related to COVID-19, do share it with us. You can write to us anytime at hello@indiabioscience.org, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. We look forward to hearing from you.
We have also put together a resource page with up-to-date and accurate information about the pandemic. We hope you will enjoy browsing through this. Please share it widely with your friends and family.
For the scientific community, this is also a great chance to engage in some collaborative research in a new and important area. Multiple national funding agencies are seeking proposals for funding research into developing diagnostics, vaccines, novel therapeutics or any other interventions to control COVID-19. We have linked a couple of these grants below. Please keep an eye on our website for more!
As concerned citizens, please continue to follow all the safety guidelines laid out by the authorities, practise social distancing, and keep washing hands frequently. Please avoid touching your face, maintain a safe distance from anyone showing signs of a cold or flu, and help your local community as and when needed.
Team IndiaBioscience wishes you and your family good health as we move forward. Stay safe.
Educate yourself about COVID-19
We have compiled here some resources from around the web that can help us learn and understand more about COVID-19 and the present pandemic. As you browse through these, please feel free to share any that you find useful amongst your friends, family, and professional networks. Click on each icon below to learn more.
Do I need to wear a mask every time I step out of the home? What should I do if I have symptoms of cold/?flu? Is this infection going to stay or disappear? We requested Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, Sonipat and Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, to answer some of the most common questions being asked about the virus and clear up some misconceptions.
The public-private healthcare gap in the fight against COVID-19
Joel P. Joseph & Leeba Ann Chacko
As India moves through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and puts containment procedures in place, the need for rapid and widespread testing is becoming more and more critical every day. In such a scenario, it is crucial for the public and private healthcare sectors to combine their forces and coordinate their actions.
How maths helps us battle the spread of infectious diseases
Susheela Srinivas
Contrary to popular belief, mathematics can be an important ally in our battle against pandemics. Here, we discuss some of the early mathematical models of disease transmission, as well as more modern versions that rely on computer-based simulations and factor in complex parameters. Insights gained from such approaches can be used to inform policy decisions related to novel diseases such as COVID-19.
Special Grants on COVID-19
Call for proposals: COVID-19 Research Consortium
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
Deadline: 30 March
To support the preparedness, readiness and response for COVID-19, project proposals are being solicited for developing Diagnostics, Vaccines, Novel Therapeutics, Repurposing of Drugs or any other intervention for control of COVID-19 by Industry/Academia/ Industry-Academia participation.
Call for Proposals under IRHPA?-?COVID 2020
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Deadline: 30 March
SERB announces a special IRHPA Call (3-year duration) specifically designed for COVID-19 and related respiratory viral infections. Academic and research institutions are encouraged to submit competitive proposals having a strong interdisciplinary component between chemists, biologists, virologists, immunologists, and clinicians.