Sayantan Datta
Sayantan (they/them) is a queer-trans science writer, journalist and communicator.
They Decided To Debate Women’s Leadership Skills. Then It Got Worse.
A recent debate reveals misogyny, casteism and queer-trans-phobia in Indian science academia.
January 2nd 2021
Threading together a (very) brief history of genetic research on sexuality
A twitter thread on the history of genetic research on sexuality for the LGBTQ+ STEM day 2020.
November 27th 2020
Argument with faculty over COVID testing camp leads to suspensions
Questions about freedom of expression at IISER Kolkata have been raised with two students suspended for alleged misbehaviour after they demanded clarifications on the secretive manner in which a testing camp was conducted on campus. One of them has since resigned.
November 24th 2020
A constant uneasy state: Trans people in STEM in India
Issues of trans gender, gender non-binary and gender-conforming people in science in India are compounded by the heavily gender-segregated nature of most Indian campuses. When the engagement with sex, gender and sexuality is lesser, the scrutiny is heightened.
November 9th 2020
Raging to reclaim space in science
Why is there so much guilt, blame and unprofessionalism associated with public anger? As a queer-trans person in science, I am here to be angry, and to speak on it.
October 10th 2020
Grace Banu: A Dalit-Trans technologist fights for a better world
What is it to be Dalit, trans, and still persist in STEM? Grace Banu, a technologist and a fierce activist, talks about the same as she takes us through her life in this comix.
October 2nd 2020
On mandatory exams and a willfully ignorant court
The UGC justifies its controversial circular mandating final examinations with the claim that “examinations give confidence and satisfaction to the students”. A survey with 25 university students severely contradicts this and flags some critical issues.
September 27th 2020
Salamanders, crickets and zebrafish: Bittu’s journey in science (and gender)
An evolutionary neuroscientist and a transman, Bittu R. takes us through his journey in science and the experience of being an activist and a scientist at the same time.
July 31st 2020
Webinar on ‘The idea and consequences of a Scientific Genius’
Insights from a discussion with sociologist Gita Chadha and graduate student Shalini Mahadev on the idea of scientific genius.
July 9th 2020