CBS Science Club

Abstract: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the largest particle physics experiment conducted to date, where energy can be converted into matter to see what kind of new particles might show up. This was used to find the Higgs boson in 2012, and it could also be the first experiment to produce dark matter on Earth. But what exactly happens in this experiment?

About the speaker: Dr. Nish*ta Desai is a particle physicist. After completing her PhD from Harish Chandra Research Institute in Allahabad, she has worked at CERN and at Universities in the UK, France and Germany before joining TIFR in Mumbai. She has recently left her position at TIFR and joined industry.

Open Mic (12.02.2024)
Thanks to everyone for being a part of the evening!
We're proud of Anindya Priyadarshini (from Fourth year, Chemistry batch) for starting a conversation around mental health. We've a long way to go in the direction of mental health positivity and it's gratifying to see someone take that initial step!

We'll see you all soon for the upcoming Rendezvous in March!

Abstract: "One of buzz words of our time is sustainability! But undertaking sustainability as a guiding principle in life is easier said than done! This talk/interaction will focus on how an individual or a group of people can reflect on their actions when it comes to sustainability, in context of traveling. Though this context may seem specific, it addresses a range of issues that go beyond just tourism. It will discuss the conundrums, implications and uncertainties involved with our thoughts and actions when we decide to walk the path of sustainability. Along side this discussion, I will also shed light on how these experiences shape my research at HBCSE."

About the speaker: Adithi is a Scientific Officer with the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai. She is a nature enthusiast and her love for nature has taken her across the length and breadth of India, working with various local and national organizations, state forest departments, NGOs and initiatives. Her volunteering has included radio-tracking King Cobras, carrying out transect-surveys to estimate Tiger-prey population, photo-documentation of herpetofauna, bird-surveys, plateau surveys, education projects etc.
She runs a nature blog called Earthly Notes and has extensively published pedagogical and popular articles on environment education.
Her recently published storybook, The Poopy Path is an exploration of the wild with a different perspective. Copies of this book have been made available at CBS library and we encourage you to read it whenever you get a chance.

Thank you everyone for joining in for the session!
We hope to see you again!

See you this Tuesday evening!

Rendezvous with Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya on 5th September 2023.
An engaging evening!

Thanks for joining in yesterday evening! See you soon again!🐌🌼❤️

Abstract:
"In India, there is a worrying disconnect between science and society. Unfortunately, the scientific community, though mainly publicly funded, hardly engages adequately with the public, with outreach often being a public relations exercise rather than a platform for discussion. In particular, the role of curiosity-driven, basic research (which often lies behind more tangible things "in the news") is mostly forgotten. Increasingly, the ever-expanding digital media platforms are where the general public gets its information from, where information, true or false, can quickly "go viral". Navigating a world, which often seems to be getting more polarized, even in discussions of topics like the COVID-19 pandemic or climate change, and where there is a flood of information, adds new complexities into the relationship between science and society.
Let's discuss the challenges to science communication and public engagement in the world we live in today. How do we remove the barriers and provide appropriate incentives to improve the quality of interaction between science and society?"

About the speaker:
Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, an expert in semiconductor optoelectronics at Mumbai's TIFR, holds degrees from IIT-Bombay and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He is associated with the TIFR research group focusing on novel semiconductor materials, especially III-nitride semiconductors synthesized via metalorganic vapour-phase epitaxy. He currently chairs TIFR's Science Popularization and Public Outreach and is the Centre Director of Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai. He's known for launching Mumbai's "Chai and Why?" popular science talks and has received the 2010 Homi Bhabha Award and the 2012 Chevening Rolls-Royce Fellowship for Science and Innovation Leadership. He's passionate about science outreach, engaging various audiences including students and teachers.