Desi Academia Podcast

Aman Bhargava is a UI/UX designer by training, who found his calling in data visualisation. He works for Revisual Labs,  an information design agency based in India that specialises in data storytelling and design. In today’s episode we talk about his journey from an R stats and plotting class at Shrishti School of Design to building a career creating high-impact data graphs for clients like Reuters and UNHCR, the intersection between data analysis and policy, and what motivates him to seek new projects on the internet. We also discuss the impact AI has had on reducing the entry costs into this field, hallucinations, and what the future holds. Aman also walks us through his recent passion project, “Analyzing Film Censorship in India: CBFC Watch”, and how he was able to go from publicly available information to a searchable, robust and user-friendly dashboard.Recommendations:MeghA Complete UnknownFOOD, CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN INDIA: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Perspectives, Edited by Rituparna Patgiri and Gurpinder Singh LalliFreakerier FridayNehru’s India Sounds like a Cult podcastVatsalAll Her Fault - show AmanVisionscarto - Blog about map visualization. https://pudding.cool/https://orangedatamining.com/Aman’s newsletter, Diagram Chasing, https://diagramchasing.fun/The PowerbrokerFall of Civilizations- book/podcast

In this new episode of DAP, Megh and Vatsal are joined by Dr. Robin Sharma. A friend of the pod, Dr. Sharma is a creator of science-based Digital Learning Environments (DLEs). He studies the effects of such DLEs on academic achievement, attitudes, and acceptance. He has more than seven years of professional experience in Ed.Tech. at international non-profits, the video game industry, and of course, academia. He talks to us about his academic journey that started from a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics to learning science. We also get a quick primer on learning science, DLEs, and what it takes to develop games to aid learning. Join us for an enriching conversation!Recommendations: ​Megh◦Book: Rebel with a Cause: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rebel-with-a-clause-ellen-jovin?variant=43095339040802◦Movie: Minsara Kanavu “spring mudi”◦26th Jan parade◦Boardgames - Through the Ages, John Company, T’zolkin The Mayan Calendar, Indonesia, SplendorRe-recommendation: Pluribus ​Vatsal◦Movie: Bugonia​Robin◦Website: https://chaturbhuj.notion.site/Robin-Sharma-1130d1f78dfe806bb041dd8c97c84bf3◦The Mathematical Universe - Max Tegmark◦Explaining Life through Evolution - Prosanta Chakrabarty◦Game: Assassin Creed* Robin's DLEs can be found here: https://chaturbhuj.notion.site/Learning-Environments-1ef0d1f78dfe80dabfd2d90ff6d822cc

We are joined once again by Ajay and Harsha, as we discuss the major tech breakthroughs of 2025 and the major theme of this progress: AI. Recommendations and References:⁠It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbotThe MIT List Anthropic Coverage:Trump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI useTrump Orders Government to Stop Using Anthropic After Pentagon StandoffAnthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguardsAnthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillanceOpenAI Coverage: OpenAI: "Our agreement with the Department of War"OpenAI’s Sam Altman announces Pentagon deal with ‘technical safeguards’ Previous Episodes with Harsha and Ajay:S11E1: Pivoting from a PhD- navigating an alternative career path with Harsha Supplementary Materials 4: Tech Wrap 2024 with Ajay and HarshaS4E1- Conversation around Drug discovery Ft. Harsha

In this episode of DAP, we are joined by Dhruti, a long-time listener and a friend of the pod. She takes us through her academic journey, studying botany and zoology as part of her undergrad program in Bangalore to researching microbial populations of the soils in Australia for her PhD studies. We talk about her love of birds and spiders and how that contributed to her scientific journey, documenting 'soppus' in local communities, her dissertation work about understanding microbial ecology of soil in Australia, and much more! Join in!!!RECOMMENDATIONS: MeghLike: A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word – An Informative and Engaging Look at Language, Women, and Society, Megan C. ReynoldsShould Scientists and Engineers Run Society? Dr FatimaShows: Narcos, The PittVatsalTapeworm Spreads Deadly Cancer to Human | Scientific American‘All authors agree’ to retraction of Nature article linking microbial DNA to cancerDhrutiMerlin Sheldrake’s works (https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/)Jake Robinson (https://www.jakemrobinson.com/books)Amitav Ghosh: Ghost Eye

This is Desi Academia Podcast's Golden Jubilee, and we are so glad you have been with us on this journey! For this special episode, we bring on friend of the podcast Saurabh, and talk to him about his academic journey as a mathematician. He takes us through his remarkable journey as a researcher in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Israel, and Switzerland. Saurabh tells us about what it mean to “encounter infinity” through mathematics, what is it like to understand the world by asking ‘if this certainty was weakened, would the theorem still hold true’, and what it's like to ask great questions without thinking about applications.We talk about how Saurabh found his passion for teaching, his pivot to industry, his experiences with the political realities of all the places he inhabited, and how he finds joy in his work.Recommendations:SaurabhBook: Everybody Loves a Good Drought The WirePowderCapernaumEl secreto de sus ojos Argentina 1985“AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself”“AI may upend online studies critical to social science”VatsalWhat Noam Chomsky’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein says about progressive politicsMeghPleurebisTed LassoHumans in the LoopMurtagh

We are joined again by Harsha, to discuss the difficult reality of life in the sciences and how to pivot when the academia and funding the system fails. Harsha shares his learnings from his experience being asked to 'master out' of his PhD program, how he reconciled with academia, found a community to do impactful work, and how he views 'science for the sake of science’. We discuss the short-term and long-term next steps, navigating the immigration system, building communities and using our knowledge for the good, and keeping the faith in science.RecommendationsMeghThe Wire "The War on Science'", Youtube video by Shaun "OpenAI is huge in India. Its models are steeped in caste bias", MIT Technology Review VatsalLancet article: Estimating the effect of annual PM2·5 exposure on mortality in India: a difference-in-differences approach - The Lancet Planetary HealthHarshaBraiding Sweetgrass Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In this episode of DAP, Vatsal and Megh are joined by a friend of the pod, Dr. Rituparna Patgiri. She shares her experiences teaching sociology to STEM graduates. Most importantly, she shares her teaching and mentorship philosophy. We discuss the different roles of a teacher, what it takes to teach sociology, and how to distinguish between opinions and empirical studies. Recommendations: Recommendations:MeghAlgospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam AleksicTV show: Boots, NetflixRituparnaTV show: The social dilemmaRituparna's co-edited book: Food, Culture and Society in India: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Perspectives The Attention Economy Arushi BhandariVatsalKaren Hao- interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8enXRDlWguUSuperboys of Malegaon

Aditya, Megh, and Vatsal are back to discuss their major life changes in 2025. Vatsal shares his shift from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to fibrosis, the scientific and ethical training needed to work with live human doner tissue, and the challenges navigating the visa system in Canada. We also discuss the challenges of postdoc onboarding, HR in academia (or the lack thereof), 9-5 life after the PhD,  'dry lab privilege vs wet lab reality', the impact of being gym-pilled on intellectual labor, and navigating postdocs in non-English speaking countries. We end with a question- has your PhD given you the training to build a career not just outside Western Academia, but in the Global South?

We continue this season with another friend-of-the-pod Professor Indranil Dutta, as we discuss Megh's dissertation defense and thesis writing experience, and the value of a supportive research experience. Recommendations:MeghThe Rosie ProjectIndranilTV show: OrbitalParts UnknownKitchen ConfidentialVatsalAnthony Bordain’s ‘No Reservation’

It's season 10 (Yes, we can't believe it either!) and the OG gang (Megh, Aditya, and Vatsal) gets together after a very long time to vent about all things academia. In this episode of Desi "postdoctoral" podcast, we catch up with Aditya and discuss how academia has been treating him over the past year or so. We talk about what's going on in our lives, things plaguing academia, and much more!Join us for this fun conversation!

Have you ever wondered what it's like to explain your research to an immigration and customs officer? Today, Manan and Sumaira join us to discuss their work on trans-continental poetry and periodicals respectively, what it means to study the history of Islamic communities and literary traditions in Western Academia, the different aims and focii of sociology, anthropology, literature, religious studies and Islamic studies, and what it means to impart all this knowledge and passion in college classrooms.RecommendationsSumairaIdea of the Muslim WorldOttoman History PodcastWhen only God can see: the Muslim Faith of Political Prisoners Walaa Quisay & Asim QureshiThe Writings of Sharjeel Imam, Gyanendra Pandey, Papihah GhoshAdul Manān Bhat Genealogies of Religion Talal AsadThe Venture of Islam, Marshall HodsonPolitics of Piety,Saba MahmoodWhat is Islam? Importance of being Islamic, Shahab AhmedThe work of IqbalMeghBecoming Young Men in a New India, Shannon PhilipAfter I Was Raped: The Untold Lives of Five Survivors Urmi BhattacheryyaVatsalOzarc, Netflix

We have a thought-provoking discussion on how to fight for research ethics with Dr. Achal Agarwal. We discuss different kinds of unethical behaviour in academic publishing, how retractions happen, and the institutional reform needed to uphold academic standards. Learn more about the Indian Research Watch https://irw.co.inRecommendationsAchalFreakonomicsHitchhikers’ Guide to the GalaxyCourse: Calling BullshitVatsalAlzhimers’ paper retraction https://www.science.org/content/article/researchers-plan-retract-landmark-alzheimers-paper-containing-doctored-imagesAlzhimers’ paper data manupulation https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/cassava-alzheimers-trials-misconduct-scrutiny-matthew-schrag/728955/MeghThe Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics, Tim HarfordMovie: Krippendorf’s TribeMovie: Serious Men

Join us in this episode of DAP as we talk about the research of Professor Deepak Modi. Prof. Modi is an independent researcher at the ICMR National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health. To conclude this pride month, he gives us a masterclass on the biology and genetics of human reproduction and fertility. We talk about his cutting edge research that involves 'organs on a chip' to evaluate safety of drugs during pregnancy, molecular pathways he discovered that play an important role in fertility, doing 'wet-lab' research in India and much more!RecommendationsDeepakUterex, Biological basis of sexualityEmperor of all maladies, Siddhart MukherjeeThe gene machine, Venky Ramakrishnan‘Science is about doing what everyone has done, but seeing what no one has seen’HarshaThe last lecture, Randy PostVatsalWar, Bob WoodwardMeghBehind the graduate mental health crisis in science https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02457-zwhat OnlyFans' billions reveal about the market value of male desire: https://maalvika.substack.com/p/what-onlyfans-billions-reveal-aboutTouch grass podcastBoring Bedtime stories

In this episode of DAP, Megh, Harsha and Vatsal are joined by Dr. Shannon Philip. Dr. Philip is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on the relationship between masculinities, femininities and sexualities in cities of the Global South.In this riveting conversation, Dr. Philip takes us through his academic journey and while doing so, gives us a masterclass on his intersectional research. We talk about masculinity in global south and how to study this subject, ethnography, patriarchy, feminism and much more...Listen in!Dr. Philip's book title: Becoming Young Men in a New India: Masculinities, Gender Relations and Violence in the Postcolony RecommendationsVatsalConclaveHarshaThick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan CottomSense of StyleShannonLiving a feminist life, Nivedita MenonBadhai DoThe great indian kitchenThappadMeghDelhi a Novel, kushwant SinghAge of Vice,How to talk to your cat about gun violenceNetflix relationship advice, Ananya Pandey

Its pride month 2025 and DAP is back with a new episode. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Ketaki Chaukhani. Dr. Chowkhani is an Assistant Professor at Manipal Centre for Humanities where she teaches India’s first ever course on Singles Studies. Join us in this riveting conversation where she explains what is single studies or "singleism" and her research that attempts to understand boyhood, sexuality and society. Recommendations Dr. Chaukhani's selected works: 1. https://www.theswaddle.com/marriage-is-letting-us-down-should-there-be-a-right-not-to-marry2. Her book: The Limits of Sexuality EducationLove, Sex, and Adolescent Masculinities in Urban IndiaDr. Ketaki Chaukhani:Bella de PauloVatsalFlop showMeghPushpa 2Rebecca Watson, violencehttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/25/should-a-country-speak-a-single-language

In this episode, we are joined by Amit Kaushik, A PhD candidate in the Integrative Conservation and Anthropology, University of Georgia. We talk about his pre-doctoral experiences with wetland conservation in Delhi, GIS work in Ladakh, and human-tiger interactions in Madhya Pradesh. Amit tells us how he found himself in an interdisciplinary program, living his dream to work with wolves with a funding partnership with National Geographic. We discuss his school and college transition from commence to anthropology and conservation, and how art, theatre, people, and administrators contribute to his research work .Recommendations:AmitRadhika Govindarajan, Animal Intimacies"Jatikaran: Caste, Rats, and the control of space at the Karni Mata Mandir" https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25148486221094132Raghu Chandawat, The rise and fall of the emeraldsforest"Protecting India’s tigers and wolves through art, collaboration and conservation | Franklin College of Arts and Sciences" https://www.franklin.uga.edu/news/stories/2024/protecting-indias-tigers-and-wolves-through-art-collaboration-and-conservation

In this special episode, the hosts of Small India Radio (SIR) Podcast Group: Raj, Nishant, Megh, Vatsal, Richa, and MV; talk about their professional experiences in education and workplaces. We talk about how we got here: our degree choices and motivations, experiences growing up in different parts of India, exposure, and moving away from home. We discuss the impact of Liberalisation and 2014, creating reliable knowledge sources and reading, visiting India, the thoughts of moving back, and the impact of education systems and degrees on our lives. Check out our sister podcasts!Bharatiya Junta Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cEQfIblu88FzyHGdVCG0ePCCI podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oGfaWZ5cbsc18sfeP8g3o

In this episode of DAP, Hassaan joins Megh and Vatsal. Hassaan is a Ph.D. student at the University at Albany, studying Theoretical Physics. Specifically, he is working on problems in String Theory and Quantum Field Theory. Hassaan also has an amazing YouTube channel called "Phymaths," where he makes videos about all things related to theoretical physics and mathematics. In this episode, Hassaan takes us through his academic journey, what it takes to study theoretical physics, and the fascinating fundamentals of physics that make up his thesis work. Hassaan's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nAENP4F5GKrGk9BLNFLvwRecommendations: HassaanHalliday Resnick, CraneUniversity PhysicsBrief History of TimeDerak belt trickKKLTDine Seiberg problemStephen WinebergWhat we owe to the futureWhat is Real, Adam BeckerTheory and RealityTwilight of DemocracyA Scout MindsetPuzzles to Unravel the UniverseA very Short introduction series: game theory, religionPunjab ka BatwaraProofsMegh4 LionsRace, Science, and the Continuing Education of Razib Khan https://undark.org/2017/02/28/race-science-razib-khan-racism/Yo Yo Honey Singh, FamousVatsalVlog brothers news letters: We are HereThe Man Who Took LSD and Changed The World

In this special episode, friends of the podcast Ajay and Harsha join Megh to discuss the MIT Tech review, 2024. We discuss major innovations in GenAI, biotech, astronomy, and sustainable technology.We also consider the impact of the defunding of scientific bodies in the US and the deregulation of BigTech, and whether the innovations of 2024 will have a chance to scale.Recommendations and References:Google CEO Sundar Pichai on AI-powered search and the future of the web: https://www.theverge.com/24158374/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-ai-search-gemini-future-of-the-internet-web-openai-decoder-interviewMIT Technology Review- 10 Breakthrough Technologies: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/03/1109178/10-breakthrough-technologies-2025/Hugging Face  Pleias 1.0 models:  https://huggingface.co/blog/Pclanglais/common-modelsAI is ‘beating’ humans at empathy and creativity. But these games are rigged: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/28/ai-empathy-humansCan LLMs Generate Novel Research Ideas? A Large-Scale Human Study with 100+ NLP Researchers: https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04109 All That Glitters is Not Novel: Plagiarism in AI Generated Research: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.16487 Patal Lok S2

In this episode of DAP, Megh, Vatsal, and a friend of the pod, Dr. Harish Prakash, are joined by Dr. Vivek Nityananda. Dr. Nityananda is an outstanding behavioral ecologist and a senior lecturer at Newcastle University. His multidisciplinary research aims to understand animal behavior by combining psychology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and ecology. Join us as Dr. Nityananda discusses his academic journey, motivations, and research on bees, praying mantis, crickets, and other insects. Moreover, he takes us through his fascinating current research that dissects the evolutionary persistence of “overconfidence,” which is also the subject of his new book titled “Beyond Doubt.”Recommendations: Vivek The Empire Podcast, William Darlymple and Anita Anand The Last of Us Harish Daryl Dickson Vatsal Aeons: Surviving Deep Time Vettaiyan Megh Sabrina Scent of a Woman

This episode, we are joined by Professor Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal (@ranjodhd), from the Digital Humanities Lab, University of Basel. We learn about his transition from engineering to literature, and how his foundation in STEM education contributes to his work in science and technology studies. We discuss his work on how science is shaped by narratives and capital, and how technical experts and scientists invent many means to express what they observe and find. Our conversation leads to a discussion of the technical aspects of science communication, building video games for research, and the impact of social media on how science is transmitted and popularised. Recommendations Ranjodh A Professor Doctor Von Legal Smith, Alexander McCall Smith Pentiment, video game Megh Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives Vir Das, Wanted (live) Neural Networks, by Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal, Théo Lepage-Richer, and Lucy Suchman Vatsal “On contemporary Image Making” by Prof Dhaliwal "Incorporation of photosynthetically active algal chloroplasts in cultured mammalian cells towards photosynthesis in animals"

In this episode of DAP, we are joined by Professor Mamta Saxena , associate professor at the State University of New York (Oswego). We learn about the field of Human Development and Sibling Studies, and it's relationship with other fields in social sciences. Professor Saxena tells us about her PhD journey, and ongoing research projects. Recommendations Megh All that we imagine as light Vettayan Vatsal Severance

In this episode, we are joined by recent PhD graduate Dr. Ishaan Bhat (@Doctor_Woah) who shares his experience dissertating in European academia. Ishaan walks us through his specialisation in image recognition and ML/DL algorithms, his interdisciplinary collaboration with medical doctors, and his doctoral research on uncertainty estimation and improving reliability in predictions made by image recognition algorithms. We also chat about his dissertation defence experience. We cover the unique challenges and joys of applied research, the complications of working with protected data, and the importance of open science, reproducibility, and code+paper style publications. Recommendations Ishaan The Good Research Code Handbook: https://goodresearch.dev The Wager , by David Grann Megh Honey Singh's interview by Lallantop Movie: Sarfarosh The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India, by Shailaja Paik Vatsal A scientific fraud. An investigation. A lab in recovery: https://www.thetransmitter.org/science-and-society/a-scientific-fraud-an-investigation-a-lab-in-recovery/ Podcast: Gastropod

Aman tells us about how he combined his passion for sport with his lived experience in India, and professional experience as a sports journalist. We discuss how he moved from the fast-paced life of journalistic publication, to slow and measured academic knowledge creation. We also talk about the nuances of researching and teaching about sports journalism and disability, and how to cover a para sportsperson on their term. Aman also shares with us the amazing experience of his field work: covering and publishing on the Paris para-olympics. Aman Dan Goodly Shampa Sengupta Crib camp: A Disability Revolution Pitching Around Fidel: A Journey Into the Heart of Cuban Sports On National Sports Day today, Aman Misra recommends a few sports books that can inspire children Vatsal The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King  Megh Linguini: A benchmark for language-agnostic linguistic reasoning The promise of Ambedkar University Delhi is in tatters. Professors are quitting & Suing Movie: The Reluctant Fundamentalist TV Series Rings of Power Movie: The Sound of Metal

In this episode of DAP, Megh and Vatsal are joined by Dr. Harish Prakash. Dr. Prakash is an assistant professor at GITAM University, and his research interests include ecology and animal behavior. Join us in this fun conversation, where we take a deep dive into his academic journey and his motivations. We tackle questions like why the study of ecology is essential, his research involving studying bats in the wild ecosystems of India, and much more. Recommendations Harish Resident Alien Letter to an ecologist Hugh Wilson An environmental history of India, Micheal H fisher https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/an-environmental-history-of-india/20102711CAD02F7D3CC090D2E283E006 Malayalam movies- Avesham, Brahmoyugam, Manjumel Boys, Premalu Megh Dr. Fatima: the Sokal Affair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESEFUaEA7kk Importance of stupidity in science: https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/121/11/1771/30038/The-importance-of-stupidity-in-scientific-research Book: Magnifera Indica:a biography of the mango Vatsal Tartrazine makes skin see through: https://www.sciencealert.com/incredible-experiment-reveals-a-way-to-make-skin-transparent

In this episode, we discuss the resurgence of He Jiankui on the Twitter trends, the research that made CRISPR a Nobel-worthy discovery, and the various reasons why scientists don't go around gene-editing human embryos to create super species. Readings: Scientist who gene-edited babies is back in lab and ‘proud’ of past work despite jailing China to begin first in-human CRISPR trial next month CRISPR genome editing gets 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry He Jiankui’s tweet CCR5 is a suppressor for cortical plasticity and hippocampal learning and memory

Join us in this episode of Desi Academia Podcast where we discuss the ins and out of an academic publication. Megh and Vatsal are joined by the friend of the pod Dr. Rituparna Patgiri where they talk about all the basics of an academic publication. We tackle questions like what is an academic publication, where do we publish, who is an author, what is peer review and more!RecommendationsMegh“What’s app got to do with it? Premium love in times of emotional capitalism” https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2024/08/12/whats-app-got-to-do-with-it-premium-love-in-times-of-emotional-capitalism/Grey Zone: How to swear like a linguisthttps://www.jstor.org/stable/community.28035108?seq=165“Exploring dialogic interactions in grandparent-grandchild conversations over video chat in the United States” https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZSQM4M84CUIXZZ7IW4FN/full?target=10.1080/17482798.2024.2384977Movie: Close to YouRituparnaDoing Sociology- Rituparna’s article on publishing in sociologyResearch assistant wanted: The outsourcing of intellectual labour reveals academia’s colonial roots https://scroll.in/article/1061526/research-assistant-wanted-the-outsourcing-of-intellectual-labour-reveals-academias-colonial-rootsLSE How publishing has changed over timeNature- removing journal names from CVs https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02596-yVatsalEric, NetflixCity of Djins

The gang returns to discuss what makes academics divorce their intellect and rationality from their political positions? Recommendations: Megh ChatGPT is bullshit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-024-09775-5 Romance Scammers Find a New Way To Prey on Indian Women https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/romance-scammers-find-a-new-way-to-prey-on-indian-women/ LLMs Can't Plan, But Can Help Planning in LLM-Modulo Frameworks https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.01817 Do Scientists Make Good Presidents? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-scientists-make-good-presidents In bed with the Right podcast https://gender.stanford.edu/inbed Vatsal China has become a scientific superpower https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/06/12/china-has-become-a-scientific-superpower#:~:text=Today%20China%20leads%20the%20world,general%20biology%20and%20medical%20science Aditya Godzilla vs Kong Friendship With Science - Episode 2 - Arvind Gupta, Shashi Thutupalli, Biswa Kalyan Rath https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZItgy0yKP0

In this episode Palomi, shares her journey in psychology. She discusses her experiences with fieldwork and in clinical settings in Karnataka, Andhra, Florida, and the East Coast. We talk about how researchers of the human mind manage human subject data, building a portfolio and online presence for pursuing research opportunities, and the impact of social media, science communication, and AI tools on the academic community.   Recommendations: Palomi Cindy B Veldhuis’s Profile (Northwestern, ISGMH Lab): https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=56819 Heartstopper, Netflix Book: Queer Studies, by Kaustav Bakshi, Rohit K. Dasgupta Nikita Ghodke: https://x.com/nikitaghodke04 Anushka Kumar: https://www.anushkakumar.com/ Palomi’s website: https://www.palomikurade.com/ Harsha Book: The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky Vatsal F1: Drive to  Survive Megh The Boys on Amazon Prime Yoko and the Beetles, by Lindsey Ellis on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMOABV_zgrk Activity: dumb Arcade games

In this episode of DAP, we discuss the national entrance exam controversy, which impacts millions of students and academics in the country. Apart from NEET/NET exams, we discuss our first impressions of the controversy, what it means to the students, the general examination and coaching culture surrounding it, and the ramifications of this absolute blunder, amongst many other things. Recommendations Antara ⁠https://thewire.in/education/if-not-net-then-what⁠ ⁠https://thewire.in/education/cbse-examinations-education-india⁠ ⁠https://thewire.in/192566/absurdity-national-eligibility-test/⁠ Ankit ⁠https://theprint.in/opinion/i-attempted-ugc-net-thrice-now-i-understand-why-students-look-abroad-for-phd/2147662/⁠ ⁠https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/11/27/saurabh-kumar-sharma-appointed-as-faculty-in-jnu-amid-speculations-of-undemocratic-employment⁠ ⁠https://punemirror.com/pune/education/pune-students-in-rural-areas-see-red-over-ugc-decision-on-phd-admission/cid1711697821.htm⁠ Jasmine The Two Dogmas of Hindu Philosophy Megh The Boys Elsbeth Pew research, "Key findings about religion in India" ⁠https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/06/29/key-findings-about-religion-in-india/⁠ "NET is far from perfect but its cancellation matters more than you think" ⁠https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/net-is-far-from-perfect-but-its-cancellation-matters-more-than-you-think/⁠ Vatsal "Saurabh Kumar Sharma appointed as faculty in JNU amid speculations of undemocratic employment⁠" ⁠https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/11/27/saurabh-kumar-sharma-appointed-as-faculty-in-jnu-amid-speculations-of-undemocratic-employment⁠ Maheshwar Peri's Youtube Channel https://youtu.be/ovt9C1NyaSs?si=IXJ3Z9VATg8ap9-P

We are joined by Ravi and Tara, two incredible alumni of a private university in India. They talk to us about their experience ideating, researching and writing their undergraduate theses, and how their pre-doctoral work in India sparked their ongoing research journeys in the fields of economics and culture studies. Recommendations Megh Inside Out-2 Baby Reindeer Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 "Real Versus Imagined Gender Harassment" "Animal homosexual behaviour under-reported by scientists, survey shows" "Email responsiveness varies based on the pronouns in the requesters’ email signature: The role of they/them pronouns" Vatsal "Science must right a historical wrong", by Henrietta Lacks https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02494-z The Gas Man https://open.spotify.com/show/6edrtr63RobTNRuLvU2sfj Aditya Not all ‘open source’ AI models are actually open: here’s a ranking https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02012-5 Franz Deval Different Tara  Siddhartha Mukherjee Emperor of All Maladies https://www.parnassusbooks.net/book/9781439170915 Ravi Ben Lambert https://www.youtube.com/@SpartacanUsuals

In this conversation, Megh and Kaushtubh talk to content creator Balram Vishwakarma about his qualitative research work documenting the lived realities of Mumbai's workers. He shares the story of why he co-founded Scroll Back Studios, and how he approaches sharing human interest stories with the realities of content monetisation. Recommendations: Megh Bridgerton Good Omens Book- H-Pop, Kunal Purohit Kaustubh Book- Sense and Solidarity, John Dres Book- Uncertain Glory, John Dres Balram Dr. Divyakriti's Youtube Channel Book- Caste Pride, Manoj Mitta

DAP "Supplementary Materials" is a new subset of conversations that just can't be fit anywhere else. In this quick episode, Megh and Ajay discuss the recent global outage faced by Windows users, the issue faced by Crowdstrike, and the difficulty of balancing the need for immediate actions with the need to rigorously testing a release before deployment. Sources: Watch Rahul Dua's Insta story: https://www.instagram.com/therahuldua/reel/C9ruPo7yxkC/ XKCD meme: https://x.com/xkcd/status/1814357797280051634 Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/s/hVfaUGuUKr Crowdstrike Blog Post: https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/falcon-update-for-windows-hosts-technical-details/

DAP "Supplementary Materials" is a new subset of conversations that just can't be fit anywhere else. This first episode is an unplanned and unserious conversation with friend-of-the-pod Harsha, on an admission scam that [the scamster] broke on Reddit, plus a million tangents. Megh and Harsha read the young student's account of his actions, his analysis of academia and admissions in India and the US, and the pressure put on depressed Indian teenagers to chase an image of success that they know is not real. BORU link

In this episode of DAP we sit down with our guest and a friend of the pod, Kaustub Naik. A scholar and historian, Kautubh's academic journey spans the intriguing transition from STEM to MPhil in Theatre and Performance Studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. We discuss Kautubh's deeply personal motivations for studying the history of Portuguese colonialism in Southwestern India. As always, we also discuss his research methodology and the research "deliverables." Kaustubh also shares his first hand experience of JNU and how that defined his research trajectory. Join us as we discuss all this and more! Recommendations Megh Lingthusiasm E88: No such thing as the oldest language https://soundcloud.com/lingthusiasm Towards acoustic monitoring of bees: wingbeat sounds are related to species and individual traits https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2023.0111 Why doing social science research is difficult in India today https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01214-1 Producing and consuming desi gay porn in India https://www.queerbeat.org/stories/producing-and-consuming-desi-gay-porn-in-india Stardew Valley, october update Kaustub Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet trans. Richard Zenith Poetry of Namdeo, Arun Kuladkar Vilas Sarang Prachi Deshpande Creative Past Sara Maaza Thinking About History History and Historiography in Modern India Movie- Bakurao Movie In the House (French) Movie- A Touch of Sin Movie- Maamla Legal Hai Vatsal Evil Genius https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/11/astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-jab-coronavirus-saved-lives-humanitarian-crises

In this episode, we get a masterclass in sociology research from the expert Dr. Rituparna Patgiri. Dr. Patgiri is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. Apart from academics, Dr. Patgiri is also actively involved in Science communication and outreach for sociology. To learn more about her stellar work, please visit https://doingsociology.org/our-team/ Recommendations Rituparna’s Work: Precarity in the Sociology Job Market in India https://www.miamisocialsciences.org/home/uhkj5o7vyr0mxy5p43f9l1z6cdmiig Community Building and Exclusion: The Role of Food in University Hostels in New Delhi https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-022-00761-5 Megh The Fabulous and the Fascist https://verfassungsblog.de/the-fabulous-and-the-fascist/ Maggie Makar receives NSF CAREER Award to develop machine learning models backed by causal reasoning Maggie Makar receives NSF CAREER Award to develop machine learning models backed by causal reasoning Know Your Enemy podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jHnXfTVzITj32CVdESwam Rituparna The Sociological Mind CW Wills The New Books Network https://newbooksnetwork.com/ Stories by Rabindranath Tagore https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4853764/ Vatsal Your genes may influence how much you enjoy listening to music: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427096-your-genes-may-influence-how-much-you-enjoy-listening-to-music/ Distinct genetic pathways to music enjoyment: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.04.588094v1

In this episode, we are joined by Ankit Kawade, a PhD student at the Centre for Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Ankit shares his academic journey, focusing on his expertise in political philosophy and comparative literature . He explores the fascinating intersection of philosophers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Friedrich Nietzsche, and their relevance to India’s modern history. Ankit discusses his research questions, the process of developing them, and the methodologies he employs to seek answers. We delve into the significance of humanities research and the various tangible and intangible outcomes it can produce. Additionally, Ankit provides an insider's perspective on the workings of JNU, offering a unique narrative of this prestigious institution. Join us for a compelling discussion on these topics and more. Recommendations: JNU sits on Dalit scholar’s research, no advisor: https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dalit-phd-scholar-left-in-lurch-as-jawaharlal-nehru-university-sits-on-thesis/cid/2001649 UGC removes draft guidelines on de-reservation of posts after activists condemn move: see https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/ugc-removes-draft-guidelines-on-de-reservation-of-posts-after-activists-condemn-move How India can become a science powerhouse https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01088-3 What the India election means for science https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00956-2 Canadian science gets biggest boost to PhD and postdoc pay in 20 years https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01124-2 The TESCREAL bundle: Eugenics and the promise of utopia through artificial general intelligence https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/13636/11606 Contrapoints, Envy https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DaPhrTOg1RUk&ved=2ahUKEwi11tmI5YOGAxWiM0QIHRoQCC8QtwJ6BAgVEAI&usg=AOvVaw3cEYzM2pV4dv2hGch0g0lC Everest Fish Curry Masala recalled in Singapore for pesticide concerns https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/everest-fish-curry-masala-recalled-in-singapore-for-pesticide-concerns-124042000435_1.html Nestlé’s baby food sold in Asian, African countries had added sugars: Why is sugar harmful? https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-health/nestle-sugar-baby-food-india-asia-africa-harmful-9278215/ Movie: Anatomy of a Fall Feminist Interpretations of Friedrich Nietzsche, Edited by Kelly Oliver and Marilyn Pearsall The Cracked Mirror by Sarukai, Gopalguru Practicing Caste: on touching and not touching https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823282265/practicing-caste/ Age of Entanglement, Chris Manjapra: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674725140 Eating and Eating With the Dalit,  Aniket Javre Movie: Amar Singh Chamkila

In this episode of DAP, we are joined by Dr. Ruchika Sharma, a Historian and a prolific YouTuber responsible for the channel “Eyeshadow and Etihaas." We delve into Dr. Sharma's journey through academia, from her foundational years of schooling to her PhD at JNU. We discuss the intricacies of historical research methodologies, from framing the research questions to framing conclusions and unraveling the complexities of architectural studies. Join us as Dr. Sharma gives us a masterclass on how research is done in history! Recommendations: UK Reproducibility network: Winners of the Dorothy Bishop Prize https://www.ukrn.org/2024/03/28/winners-of-the-2024-dorothy-bishop-prize/ Series: Maniac The wellness bro https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/28/podcaster-andrew-huberman-goop-for-bros Alcohol Use and Mortality Among Older Couples in the United States: Evidence of Individual and Partner Effects: https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/64/2/gnad101/7230161 A Strange Thing Happens When You And Your Partner Drink Alcohol Over Time https://www.sciencealert.com/a-strange-thing-happens-when-you-and-your-partner-drink-alcohol-over-time The works of Wendy Doniger, DN Jha, Sanjay Subramanian Ring of Truth- Scroll review https://scroll.in/article/843372/the-ring-making-women-adulterous-and-men-faithful-since-the-birth-of-patriarchy Elephants and Kings: An Environmental History by Thomas R. Trautmann https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/E/bo20273102.html Emergence of the Delhi Sultanate: AD 1192-1286 by Sunil Kumar https://www.abebooks.com/9788178243061/Emergence-Delhi-Sultanate-1192-1286-Sunil-8178243067/plp

In this episode, we discuss Vatsal’s final year in his PhD program, as he grounds himself in his research to transform his results into a camera-ready manuscript, and a 200-odd page dissertation. We talk about the Pandemic and its impact on his dissertation timeline, his support system, his defense, his next steps and That Feeling When It’s Over! Recommendations: PCSK7: A novel regulator of apolipoprotein B and a potential target against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026049523003402 The Rookie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7587890/ The Ministry for the Future: https://subterraneanpress.com/robinson-tmftf/ Love Lies Bleeding India: Authorities Revoke Visa Privileges of Diaspora Critics https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/17/india-authorities-revoke-visa-privileges-diaspora-critics Mapping the Indian Manosphere https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/big-story/india-manosphere-mens-rights-influencers-gender-divide-111709889805465.html The bioethics of skeletal anatomy collections from India https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45738-6 Generative AI has a language problem https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01716-4 Babies Made to Order A Dalit-Queer critique of Lihaf recovers a world of meaning lost in its translation, reminding us that desirability is shaped by caste. Notable Sanwiches- The Hot Dog: https://buttondown.email/theswordandthesandwich/archive/notable-sandwiches-89-hot-dog/

Join us on a thought-provoking journey as we explore the intersection of academia and politics with our guests from Jawaharlal Nehru University. From the Mandal Commission to the Mandir movement, we delve into some pivotal moments that shaped India's socio-political landscape. With our guests, we engage in a discourse on the "politics of the moral" and the emergence of militarized Hindutva, reflecting on its impact on society and academia alike. Join us as we discover firsthand experiences of academics as they navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives while engaging with politics in the 90s and beyond. Tune in for insightful discussions and candid reflections on the challenges and opportunities of academia in a politically charged world. Recommendations Megh Has Uttar Pradesh’s economy surpassed Tamil Nadu?: https://frontline.thehindu.com/economy/uttar-pradesh-economy-comparison-with-tamil-nadu-south-india/article67821390.ece https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/02/16/an-absolutely-apolitical-space-why-jindal-university-suspended-two-students-this-week Vatsal Eyeshadow & Etihaas with Dr. Ruchika Sharma - YouTube

Join us for Episode 2 of this season as we delve into the unique experiences of being Queer and Desi in academia with Meghana and Harsha. Tune in as we try to explore the intersections of identity, culture, and academia. Recommendations: Megh The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India Shailaja Paik https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=34163 https://reeserichardson.blog/2024/01/30/the-king-of-curcumin-a-case-study-in-the-consequences-of-large-scale-research-fraud/ American Fiction https://tiff.net/events/american-fiction Irrational Man https://theprint.in/ground-reports/this-indian-watchdog-is-cleaning-up-mess-in-academia-falsification-fabrication-fraud/1933904/ Vatsal Haldi scandal https://theprint.in/science/inside-indian-american-biochemists-haldi-swindle-that-proposed-spice-as-cancer-hack/1950784/ Podcast: Fall of civilizations  Harsha Ted Talk  by Brené Brown https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Meghana Lisa Douggan- beyond the same sex marriage Twilight of inequality Bottoms Poor Things

In this episode, we discuss Harsha's academic journey in veterinary pathogen research and what led to his Ph.D. studies. We also discuss how our research intersects with Drug discovery and simultaneously go over some of the basics of this process. Recommendations Megh Business Standard, Jan 27th “Debt, drinking, and decisions” The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India (South Asia in Motion) Shailaja Paik Deep dive into international adoptions: Norway considers halting overseas adoptions as Denmark’s only international agency winds down work https://apnews.com/article/norway-adoptions-thailand-taiwan-philippines-south-korea-60424884735b363de32bfe3d16160a24 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/canada-ban-adoption-muslim-countries-1.7087142 Guardian investigation: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/11/the-children-who-say-they-were-wrongly-taken-for-adoption Vatsal Leave the world behind, Netflix Science Communicators: John and Hank Green Harsha Explaining Life through Evolution by Prosanta Chakrabarty

In this episode of DAP, we discuss Ajay's academic journey and what came after it. We delve into many anecdotes and certain inevitable intricacies of academia like mandated fees, stipends, thesis writing, and tenure-track applications that shape the academic landscape. Recommendations: Megh: Bumble dating survey trends: https://mashable.com/article/bumble-top-dating-trends-2024 Arranged on Amazon Prime Research assistant wanted: The outsourcing of intellectual labour reveals academia’s colonial roots https://scroll.in/article/1061526/research-assistant-wanted-the-outsourcing-of-intellectual-labour-reveals-academias-colonial-roots Hbomberguy: Plagiarism and You(tube) Vatsal Exclusive Paper Mill articles Buoyed Spanish Deans Research Output: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/18/exclusive-paper-mill-articles-buoyed-spanish-deans-research-output/ Listening to Grasshoppers: Field Notes on Democracy by Arundhati Roy Ajay Complications by Atul Gawande

In this episode, we begin with a rant about the faculty hiring process and the futility of re-entry fellowships in India. We then move on to discussing citation farms and the gamification of h-indices. Citation and publication farms links: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/23/exclusive-mayo-florida-profs-among-authors-of-article-tied-to-indian-paper-mill/ https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/25/journal-pulls-papers-following-retraction-watch-investigation/ In a Tipster’s Note, a View of Science Publishing’s Achilles Heel https://undark.org/2023/06/21/in-a-tipsters-note-a-view-of-science-publishings-achilles-heel/ Exclusive: Mayo, Florida profs among authors of article tied to Indian paper mill: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/23/exclusive-mayo-florida-profs-among-authors-of-article-tied-to-indian-paper-mill/ Exclusive: Paper-mill articles buoyed Spanish dean’s research output: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/18/exclusive-paper-mill-articles-buoyed-spanish-deans-research-output/ Recommendations Megh Fighter Origin Kathal Neri Oxman- allegations of plagiarism: https://www.businessinsider.com/neri-oxman-plagiarize-wikipedia-mit-dissertation-2024-1 Aditya Lessons in Chemistry Vatsal Podcast- Novara media

We discuss what failure means in the context of academic research: how we learn when our research goes in unexpected directions, publishing negative results, dealing with imposter syndrome and peer reviewers, and learning from our mistakes. Recommendations Tech Won't Save Us Podcast https://techwontsave.us/episode/189_elon_musk_unmasked_origins_of_an_oligarch_part_1 The Rest is History- Baghdad https://therestishistory.com/378-baghdad-the-golden-age/ Longitudinal evidence that infants develop their imitation abilities by being imitated https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982223011648 The conservative vision of liberal education in India https://caravanmagazine.in/education/ashoka-university-private-universities-caste-sabyasachi-das Intermediate levels of scientific knowledge are associated with overconfidence and negative attitudes towards science https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01677-8 Data and Power: Deconstructing Surveillance, Tufts University https://ricknabb.medium.com/data-and-power-deconstructing-surveillance-week-1-cff5517c21e2 White Noise: White Noise is the definitive inside story of the alt-right A Nobel prize for failure https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2012/oct/09/neuroscience Dr. Kariko's interview https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/health/coronavirus-mrna-kariko.html

Megh and Aditya discuss Aditya's experiences travelling internationally for conferences as an Indian PhD student. Travel fund options for Indian academics: https://www.serc-dst.org/application_for_travel_support.html https://dbtctep.gov.in https://www.ictp.it/

In this episode of DAP, we delve into the world of Academic Conferences. Why do we attend them, and what are the differences between International and Local conferences? We also examine the influence of the pandemic on academic travel, including the challenges faced by graduate students such as seeking funding, accommodation, and networking, all while experiencing the excitement of discovering new places. As G20 was the flavor of the season, and well, it's a conference of sorts, we briefly go on a tangent to discuss that event as well!

In this episode of DAP, the gang gets together to talk about the recent achievements of India's renowned space agency, ISRO, and its groundbreaking Chandrayaan mission. We discuss why these achievements are often regarded as commendable amidst the flurry of headlines and what this hype truly signifies. Is it a genuine love for science, or does it sometimes border on jingoism? Are we witnessing a resurgence of the glory days of research, or is there more to the story?   We also talk about the less glamorous aspects of science and the unique challenges it faces in a headline-dominated, macho space. What is the deal with applied scientists, including engineers and doctors, and their relationship with religion and pseudoscience? Can these professionals afford to be irrational in their personal beliefs while remaining proficient in their work? We also examine the broader implications of ISRO's success on the systemic issues within Indian academia and research. Will it serve as a convenient distraction from these issues, with the constant clutch of "see how ISRO is achieving great things"? What does this mean for research that doesn't bring international glory or isn't part of a prestigious race? Join us as we navigate through the intersection of science, hype, and the complex world of research in India.

In this episode, Megh talks about her trip back home after a long hiatus, about unavoidable bureaucratic work, dramatic climate events, local tourism and food. We also discuss how a break from academia dramatically improves our mental health, even if the physical and environmental conditions around us are catastrophic. This episode includes a serious segue into digital libraries and what it means for academia if our life’s work is housed in servers that could be sold to Elon Musk someday.

In this episode, we discuss how to tackle the challenge of lack of nuance in popular science debates. We move on to discussing how there is a culture of ignoring domain expertise in India at the cost of cocksure narratives. In the latter half of the podcast we talk of how the omission of topics like global warming, the theory of evolution, and the periodic table from lower class curriculum could result in a lack of understanding of the first principle of science.