Releasing Women in Science Calendar 2019-2020
Second edition of the Women in Science calendar is available for free download! Remember the Women in Science calendar from
Reporting Sexual Harassment in Indian Science
TLoS is sending out a google form for Indian scientific community to responsibly collect, record and report sexual harassment in Indian science. Please share it far and wide!
Backstage secrets from the fabrication lab
Research scientist Saakshi Dhanekar opens up about working in the male-dominated world of sensors, and juggling research and other responsibilities.
How happy is the scientific workforce in India?
Moved by a growing sense of unrest within the academic workforce, and a simultaneous explosion of articles discussing stress in academia in the western world, researcher Laasya Samhita investigates the scenario in India.
The many-eyed eight-legged beauties of India’s rainforests
Spurred on by a Twitter challenge, this ecologist-educator lists her favourite and little-known spiders in the rainforests of India’s Western Ghats. Enjoy!
The case of the unpaid internship
Shruti Muralidhar pens down the case for paying all interns - in academia and elsewhere.
The hunt for superflares from the Sun
For years, astronomers wondered whether the Sun is a special star - a star sans superflares. All that changed earlier this year, thanks to a meteorite called Efremovka and some neat detective work from a group of scientists including Kuljeet Kaur Marhas from PRL, Ahmedabad.
Manidipa tells us how things go viral
Manidipa talks to us about teaching students to appreciate unpredictability in research, evaluation of scientific progress, and the fortune of having a spouse in the same field.
Harini and Seema, on the value of being optimistic ecologists
Harini and Seema talk to us about their experiences while writing their latest book.
Two Herpetologists Tell Us Why We Need A Week for Turtles
No major lab, institute or organisation in India currently works dedicatedly on freshwater turtle and tortoise research, so these two independent turtle biologists started a one-of-a-kind citizen science project to fill this lacuna and share their love for these animals.
Highlights of my first year as an independent researcher
While talking about moving back to India and starting an independent lab, this physician-scientist quips, “I am happy to have survived!”
4 Reasons Some Women Hate Feminism (And What They’re Missing)
How often do we hear women scientists themselves say 'I'm not a feminist'? Many of us have walked those shoes ourselves. Here, Ginny Brown talks about her definition of feminism & how she got there.
From teacher to administrator: A founder-principal’s perspective
The founder-principal of a women’s college in Delhi shares her journey of self-discovery, career choices, and all that went behind starting a college for the applied sciences.
Adding women to Wikipedia: One article at a time
Reflections on the Wikipedia Edit-a-thons on Women’s Histories held at IIIT-Bangalore
Finding my foothold in academia
Anindita writes about her long-drawn struggle to get a permanent faculty position at IISER Kolkata.
We asked students about their women role models in science – Watch video!
We asked some students and teachers about their women rolemodels in science.
Excerpts from our first published study!
A study describing some findings about gender equality in Indian science from our labhopping journey
Building detectors at CERN—a Q&A with Archana Sharma
Mrinal Shah interviews physicist Archana Sharma, who has built detectors used at the Large Hadron Collider, CERN about her life in science
Women in science don’t want freebies, but a level playing field
Quick fixes may address person-specific issues, but long-term reliance on these quick-fixes will keep reinforcing the gender bias, undermining the massive amount of effort that women scientists put in.
Talking about art history and math with Infosys Science Prize winners
A chat with the two women who recently won the 2018 Infosys Science Prize.
In the life of a single-parent postdoc
A postdoctoral researcher talks about the odds stacked against her and of her determination to overcome them, hopefully with some help from the system.
A Manifesto for Indian Women in Science by a Woman in Science
Prabhavathy Devan offers suggestions to make postdocs in India, women-friendly.
Snippets from Spoorthi—Celebrating Indian Women in Science
Spoorthi is a resource for women in science in India and includes a diversity of voices of women.
Maithreyi moulds cells into tissues
A researcher from TIFR, Mumbai talks about her journey from a medical student to a biological researcher.
Hidden No More: Pumza’s Inheritance
Nandita talks to Pumza Tshebe, director of Scifest Africa, about her journey into science outreach.
How Hollywood brought women of S.T.E.A.M together
One of the labhoppers is back after spending three amazing weeks mingling with some amazing science women from all around the world in a unique exchange programme in the USA.
Diary of a labhopper: Outreach at NCBS, Bangalore
By Aashima Dogra It takes ages to reach Bangalore city from its airport. So I was glad my destination this
Join TLoS As Project Co-ordinator
TheLifeofScience.com is looking for a Project Co-ordinator to join the team. (Paid) (Part-time) Responsibilities of coordinator: Write, edit and publish
What Will It Take for Science in India to Have Its #MeToo Movement?
The rigid hierarchies that are fundamental to Indian scientific institutions must be dismantled to keep a check on sexual harassment that are hushed but commonplace.
Drawings of women scientists
Suchi, a digital designer is trying to make our women in science stories accessible to kids. Check out her beautiful drawings!
Draw-a-scientist bloopers and other learnings from school children
Nandita shares her experience of interacting with school students. She tried the famous 'Draw-a-scientist' test with them. Read to see what she found out.
Whether Donna Strickland or Aditi Sen De, gender gap in science remains unchanged
By Nandita Jayaraj This week, Donna Strickland became the first woman to win a Physics Nobel in 55 years. Closer
What it’s like to build a spacecraft to the Moon
Deepana Gandhi, an engineer at TeamIndus, recounts to us what participating in this lofty mission means to her.
Sandhya’s gusto for guts and affirmative action
A researcher at IISc talks about how she lobbied to modify the tenure policies for new mothers at her institute, her pathbreaking research on 'familial diarrhoeal disease' and the importance of partnering with clinicians.
Podcast: In conversation with Suhita Nadkarni
Suhita talks about her formative years in neuroscience research at the Salk Institute, establishing her own lab and forming a unique neuroscience collective in India
Coming Back to the Fold with Mahalakshmi
A photo-essay describing the tools and techniques used by a biophysicist to understand how the membrane proteins fold
Profile of rocket scientist BP Dakshayani – where BBC went wrong
A quick summary of an interesting 'twiscussion' about a recent BBC article profiling Indian rocket scientist, BP Dakshayani.
VR Lalithambika, on Launching Humans into Space
Mission Director Dr. V.R. Lalithambika doesn’t make much of the fanfare surrounding the mission to launch humans to space by 2022. I got the rare chance to sit down with her, accompanied by ISRO's head of public relations.
Podcast: In conversation with Aparna Mukherjee
Aparna Mukherjee shares her research on developing novel methods to diagnose and treat paediatric tuberculosis
Sucharita’s Guide to Preventing Diabetes
A clinical physiologist hopes her lifestyle intervention program can help prediabetics, athletes and elderly people.
Suparna searches for forgotten foods
A researcher from Gurgaon is documenting living knowledge about traditional foods.
COMIC: Pinky studies the science of ‘taste’
A neurobiologist is trying to understand how organisms use taste to make feeding decisions.
Bushra’s biomarkers for prostate cancer
A researcher at IIT-Kanpur is looking for early biomarkers to treat prostate cancer
Video: Nano-pollution is real, warns Madhu
A nanotechnologist in Chandigarh works on the dangers of the nanoparticles on biological systems.
Aparna works on making healthcare accessible
Aparna Rao, a researcher at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Bhubaneswar, is looking for new answers to counter the irreversible effects of glaucoma.
TeamIndus flies rockets with girl students
TeamIndus, a private aerospace company organises a 'girls-only' outreach event
Comic: On the tiger train with Uma
Uma Ramakrishnan, a researcher from NCBS works on tiger conservation in India.Aparna looks for better ways out of tuberculosis
A cheerful pediatrician is developing simple blood tests to monitor TB treatment
Comic: Farah gives us a bird’s eye view
Farah Ishtiaq, a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore works on understanding the spread of malaria in birds.
Government’s push for more women engineers kicks off in IIT Jodhpur
Priyanka Singh shares her experience of organising the 'Vigyan Jyoti' summer camp for girl students at IIT-J
Prerna beats the cell drums
A physicist unlocking the mysteries of cell structures shares her findings and her scientific journey
VIDEO: Conversation with Mahak Sharma from IISER Mohali
Watch the conversation with Mahak Sharma on how is cargo trafficked in cells
Listen to Prof Sreelaja Nair on our podcast
Tune into this The Life of Science podcast as Sreelaja Nair talks about her experiences and research.
Deepa Unravels Stem Cell Secrets
A biologist attempts to explain what makes stem cells stem cells
Farah Gives Us a Bird’s Eye View
A avian disease researcher decides to crack the puzzle of malaria in birds.
Into Poonkuzhali’s cabinet of pharmacology mysteries
A clinical pharmacologist whose research on the treatment of blood-related diseases is saving many lives.
Madhumitha’s quest to understand why Indians attempt suicide
How would science go about answering why some of us find an urge to end our own lives? Madhumita Balaji, Clinical Psychologist has some answers.
Download our Women in Science calendar for free!
IMSc and thelifeofscience.com have now decided to release this calendar out into the world for free download and print. Here you go!Nano-pollution is real, warns Madhu
A biologist in Chandigarh who studies the darker shades of nanotechnology shares her thoughts on her scientific life and raising a child in one.
Comic: Sucharita’s Guide to Preventing Diabetes
In a research unit in Bengaluru, Sucharita Sambashivaiah and her team of researchers are looking into an unconventional aspect of Type 2 Diabetes, and studying how the disease can be better managed in Indians. This is her story in illustrations.
Sreelaja goes fishing for embryos
A photoessay featuring an embryologist exploring how much our mothers influence the very initial moments of our life
A taste of fruit fly research with Pinky
A neurobiologist talks about her interesting research with fruit flies, dealing with retraction and the realities of Indian science.
Join the labhopping team!
The Life of Science is looking for a part-time coordinator to join the team. This is a paid position. More details below.
Listen to Prof Sandhya Visweswariah on our podcast
Tune into this The Life of Science podcast as Aashima Dogra talks to her about her research and the gender gap.
Sonam’s Toolbox for DNA Repairs
A molecular biologist who suffered the two-body problem in the USA, returned to India to continue her work on the link between cancer and DNA repair.Suhita’s No Garland Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscientist shares her ideas on how to put Indian interdisciplinary research on the map, Dnyanada reports
On the tiger trail with Uma
A molecular ecologist’s journey into the wild
Mahak Polices Traffic in Cell City
Reporter Cyrus Khan catches up with cell biologist Mahak Sharma who studies transport in cells at IISER Mohali
Swapna Probes into the Interrelated Universe
A high energy physicist in Bhubaneswar talks about the potentials of string theory and being a researcher in a state university
Photoessay: Krishnaveni’s life-long medical case studies
A photoessay on a day in the life of science of G V Krishnaveni, a public health expert working in Mysore
New foods, new ideas: Adventures in food technology
A food technologist talks of her experiences being part of the exciting start-up environment
The Other Side of the Mech Lab
There is much more to mechanical engineering than the smell and noise of machine. It’s high time we moved away from the sweat-and-grease loving, machine worshipping trope, says Ronak Gupta, a PhD scholar.
Rekha’s Mission to Improve Forest Management
Senior most faculty at IIFM, Bhopal shares current interests, her journey so far and how Indian families could be stifling scientific thinking in girls
Labhoppers need your help AGAIN
Launching our crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for our upcoming booksContribute to TLoS by filling this questionnaire!
We are now working on two books that will document our lab-hopping journey. As a person in the science community in India, your experiences are important for us to get closer to a complete picture. If you are a researcher or student working in India, please participate by filling in this questionnaire!
While your Brain Searches, Koel Watches
An electrical engineer-turned cognitive neuroscientist talks about how the brain ‘sees’ and ‘finds’.
Strength in unexpected places
Chandrima's work takes her to remote and isolated locations in the country, and it is in these unlikeliest of places she discovered warmth and support.
Kaneenika Navigates New India with Number Theories
A young mathematician speaks her mind about her love affair with numbers, blogging and sexism in academia.
When being a woman is an advantage
Ovee Thorat, a Ph.D. student at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, speaks about her experience of interacting with conservative pastrolist communities in Banni Grasslands, Gujarat.
Poonam Powers Through Solid Mechanics
A mechanical engineer doing research in IIT Guwahati talks piezoelectricity and busts some myths about mechanical engineering
Five books on women in science to read in 2018
Five books written on women in science to include in your reading list for 2018.
Scratching the Surface with Shikha
A conversation with a condensed matter physicist about surface science and making change in Indian science
Infosys Prize-winner Yamuna Krishnan on her research experiences
Dr. Yamuna Krishnan won the Infosys Prize in the Physical Sciences category. She is the only woman to win in this category since the awards were set up nine years ago.
The data driven psychologists at Monk Prayogshala
Independent researchers share their findings, motivations and how they like to work
A new episode from our podcast series is out!
In the fourth episode of our podcast series, we bring to you Kavita Shah from BHU, who works on developing biosensors to help treat waste water from local dyeing industries.
Round the carbon cycle with Sangeeta
A soil scientist discusses her findings in conservation agriculture and the deteriorating soil health in India.
Enhancing Indian cosmetics with Sanju and team
A conversation with cosmetics researcher Sanju Nanda and her team who are finding ways to make cosmetics safer along with their scientific lives in Rohtak, Haryana.
Rosy’s Red Alert to the North East
A cancer biologist in Guwahati tries to develop a non-invasive way to diagnose head and neck cancer patients in Assam
The Life Cycle of Shanti and Her Stars
A chat with Osmania University's 33-year-old Head of the Astronomy Department
Infosys Prizes Announced for Three Women – but That Is Not Enough
All 4 of the science prizes went to existing Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardees and the all-male jury chair could not acknowledge that the prize was purposefully attempting to be gender equal
Indu Has Some Concrete Ideas
A civil engineer at IIT Guwahati talks about her research on lightweight concrete
Getting your period while on the field
Came across this great video on thebrainscoop YouTube page on tips to handle menstruation while on the field. While this
Srimonti Goes Minimalist with Giardia
An evolutionary cell biologist talks about her fascination with a peculiar microorganism
Technology for All? There’s a Manual for That.
Interview with technologist Chinmayi who created a manual for building inclusive technology platforms
Devapriya and the New Era of Indian Palaeontology
This palaeobiologist deals with fossils from the Cenozoic era to piece together the mysteries of climate change and evolution
Feeling stupid and doing science go together
“Science makes you feel stupid (for girls even more )and that’s not only okay, it's also important,” confesses a scientist in the making....
Rama’s Got a Heart for Science
We chatted with a scientist-activist in Warangal, Telangana
Maitreyee Steps on the Accelerator
A conversation with a feisty nuclear physicist on her journey in a field that she is trying to revive
Sudha’s Notes from the Underground
A geophysicist from IIT Kharagpur tells us about the tricks of her trade.
Finally a daycare center at IIT Delhi
President of IIT Delhi Day Care Management Committee shares what went into starting the facility on campus whose time had come
The Research Life – Tips from a Star Seeker
I am an Astrophysicist and I love what I do. When the going gets tough I always find myself asking if there is anything else I’d rather be doing and I always draw a blank. That is how I reassure myself in my moments of doubt. This is the path I chose to walk and I shall keep walking till my legs fail me.
Bhargavi’s Quest for the Lost Bats of India
A chiropterologist at Osmania University narrates her story
Kuljeet’s Box of Pre-solar Grains
A planetary scientist pays with sweat and blood to reach for the stars
BHU woman scientist on the protests and demands
Why did police lathi charge the women students of BHU on Saturday night and was it really a lone incident of sexual assault on campus that has triggered this rage? A PhD student at the university campus reports on the prevalent state-of-mind among her community in Banaras Hindu University.
Archana Looks at Materials Cool and Magnetic
A condensed matter physicist shows us around her high-tech lab
Why IISER Bhopal’s Scientist-Parents are Breathing Easy
This is the story of how two women joined forces to help set up a daycare center on the campus of a premier research institution in the outskirts of Bhopal.
From Abstract Equations to the Human Brain with Nandini
Indian neuroscientist talks about her work on language, literacy and music.
Women in Indian Science – A Young PhD’s Perspective
An incident at a toy shop got this young researcher thinking about practical and societal obstacles in the life of girls who want to pursue science as a career.
Srubabati Detangles Weird Phenomena
Leading neutrino physicist at PRL Ahmedabad, tells the story of her life and work
Season-2 update
To apply, fill in the Google Form.
Hospital Hopping with Mahati Chittem
A psycho-oncologist at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad
An announcement
A pause until season-2...Season 2 is in the waiting room
Hello there! We have some news. Our next interview will be the last one of The Life of Science Season 1.
We won a Laadli Award!
We are SO HAPPY to inform you that The Life of Science is one of the recipients of a Laadli
Surya Shines her Laser on Relics
A researcher in archaeophotonics at Manipal University
Seema Sees Light at the End of the Telescope
An astronomer at University of Hyderabad in Telangana
Taking a Walk in Kavita’s Shoes
A cognitive scientist & game designer at International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad
Talking gender equality at Bharathidasan University
TLoS co-ordinator Vishwam Shankar reports from a conference on gender equality in Bharathidasan University in Trichy
Flexing muscle (stem cells) with Jyotsna
A stem cell biologist at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
When School Girls Got to Interact with Scientists
School girls in Chennai got a chance to get their hands dirty with science and talk to women scientists in their natural habitat
International Day of Women & Girls in Science
Looking back
Vandana and her Atom-splitting Machines
At atomic and molecular physicist at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad
Following Gooseberries with Soumya
An illustrated account of an ecologist's life
Sushmita’s second digging for Gujarat’s history
An archaeologist at MSU, Baroda
Rachel Junks the Junk DNA Theory
A molecular biologist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad
Vanita Doesn’t Waste Waste
An environment biotechnologist and entrepreneur in Baroda
Aruna and her Hungry Amoeba
A molecular Geneticist at University of Delhi
Nitty-Gritty of the Nation’s Psychology with Urmi
A social psychologist at MS University in Baroda
Lipi’s Tools for a Better Biology
A computational structural biologist at Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology in Delhi
Nina retells stories of indigenous art
A filmmaker and ethnographer at IIT, Bombay
The Himalayan Adventures of Orus Ilyas
A wildlife biologist at Aligarh Muslim University at Aligarh
Smitha and her Indomitable Ferns
An illustrated account of a pteridologist's work
Rukmani Plans for a Less Hungry India
A food security economist at MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai
Prachi Torney, a modern day alchemist
A chemist in University of Goa at Panjim
Vani Looks at Matter Bottom Up
A soft condensed matter physicist at MatScience in Chennai
Some Findings after Eight Months of Labhopping
A talk and panel discussion at IIT Delhi gave us much fodder for thought
How Mathematics Found its Way to Sushama
A mathematician at Ramanujan Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics in Chennai, who is visually impaired
Into the Core of Ancient Climate with Ayusmati
A young oceanographer at National Institute of Oceanography in Goa
The Labhoppers Have a Request For You
Hello there! Thank you for visiting The Life of Science. For 31 weeks we’ve been journeying across India, visiting labs, homes and colleges
Ramadevi’s Super Cool Space Gadgets
A retired space electronics engineer at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Trivandrum
Shilpa on the Research Animators do
An animator-filmmaker at Industrial Design Center, in IIT Bombay
Indu Likes Her Neutrinos Muon-Flavoured
A Particle physicist at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (a.k.a. Matscience) in Chennai
Mayurika starts a daycare revolution
A cancer biologist at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
Asha’s Special Diet Plan for Mice
An animal biotechnologist at St. Aloysius College in Mangalore
Monika Lends an Ear to Tradition
An ethnobiologist at Government College, Bassa in Himachal Pradesh
A Chat With Surathkal’s Mathematicians
A chat with PhD students in the Mathematics department of National Institute of Technology, Surathkal (NITK).
Shiney Knows What These Bacteria Love
A biotechnologist at Shoolini University in Solan, Himachal Pradesh
Swinging Across Forests with Jis
A conservation ecologist studying orchids in the Western Ghats
Making Cellular Art with Richa
WHO? Richa Rikhy, 40 WHAT? Cell Biologist WHERE? Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune Reported by Aashima Dogra
Prajakta and Her Lab on A Chip
WHO? Prajakta Dandekar WHAT? Pharmaceutical biotechnologist WHERE? Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai Reported by Nandita Jayaraj I had a
Following Gooseberries with Soumya
WHO? Soumya Prasad, 38 years WHERE? Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi WHAT? Forest Ecologist Reported by Aashima Dogra A volcano erupts
Smitha Hegde and Her Indomitable Ferns
An enlightening chat with of of the foremost pteridologists in the country
Natasha and Husnara Save the Mandarins
An illustrated account of a duo of horticulturists
Annamma Adds Biofuel To the Fire
WHO? Annamma Anil WHAT? Industrial Microbiologist WHERE? Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai Reported by Nandita Jayaraj Importing fuel is expensive.
Mamta Rani Deals with Chaos
WHO? MAMTA RANI WHAT? COMPUTER SCIENTIST WHERE? CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF RAJASTHAN, BANDAR SINDRI Reported by Aashima Dogra I was
Maryam Optimizes in Electronics and in Life
An electrical engineer from Iran works at IIT Bombay today and tells us about her journey.
Relooking The Nation With Anu Sabhlok
WHO? Anu Sabhlok, 43 years old WHERE? IISER, Mohali WHAT? Social Scientist Reported by Aashima Dogra At a hacker conference in
Vidita Vaidya Gets Into Your Head
WHO? Vidita Vaidya WHAT? Neuroscientist WHERE? Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai Reported by Nandita Jayaraj “So Vidita, what is
Hemlata Helps Women Help Themselves
WHO? Hemlata Manglani WHAT? Economist WHERE? Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri Reported by Aashima Dogra Cells, electrons or chemical bonds
Radhika Moves with Cancer Cells
WHO? Radhika Nair WHAT? Cancer biologist WHERE? Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum Reported by Nandita Jayaraj Funny, candid, humble
Aardra and Gayathri Give Back to the Homeland
Two biotech entrepreneurs recount their transition from mildly disillusioned college students to founding a company
BRAIN GAIN WITH RAMADEVI
WHO? RAMADEVI NIMMANAPALLI WHAT? VETERINARIAN AND BIOCHEMIST WHERE? BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY Reported by Aashima Dogra Sometimes, you have to
Kriti Keeps Our Satellites in Check
A computer scientist shares her excitement of working at ISRO and contribute to the nation
Monica Explores Life in the Almost Lifeless
WHO? Dr. Monica Bhatnagar WHAT? Microbiologist WHERE? MDS University, Ajmer, Rajasthan Reported by Aashima Dogra On a rented bike, I
Kavita, Doing Science Like a Boss
A chat with environment biotechnologist who invented biosensors for water pollutants in Varanasi and is the only woman director at Benaras Hindu University.
Elizabeth and her Eight-legged Friends
Who? Elizabeth V. Mathew What? Arachnologist Where? Union Christian College, Aluva Reported by Nandita Jayaraj “Tarantulas are beautiful,” said Elizabeth
Natasha and Husnara Save the Mandarins
Horticulturists attempt to bring back the local agrarian economy and save the legendary Darjeeling Mandarins
Nidhi Writes Banaras’s Diarrhoea Diary
A conversation with a climate change and disease research scholar at Banaras Hindu University
Aruna, the Leather Detective
A conversation with a senior biophysicist at a leather institute in Chennai
