Sparks!
IPSHITA
Origins of journeys into life sciences
What are some of the experiences, events and significant life events that gets someone to pursue biological sciences research?
Curious?
Visit the visuals below to understand what got some of the Biotales participants hooked to biology as young people.
What is the story behind these visuals?
In the Biotales workshops, using platforms such as Miro board and Mentimeter, participants scribbled short notes on experiences, events or even significant individuals in their lives that sparked their interest in the field. The comic strips below organise these experiences under categories such as nature, life experiences, curiosity, media, external influences, and visits and exposure.
You may also notice sparks flying around each comic strip. Each spark carries an anecdote from a participant. If you look closely enough, you will find that each spark is colour-coded, representing experiences within each of the categories mentioned above.
Hover over the sparks to read some of the fun responses from each of the Biotales participants!
Pratyasha
I was actually a Math nerd. There was this library I used to frequent, where while trying to reach for a certain math book on a higher shelf I toppled over Tortora and Funke's Microbiology (I wonder who misplaces books in libraries duh!). Unable to put it back in place I decided to borrow it. It had pictures too... I loved it. Read Lehninger's BIochem next... then it just happened.
Zakhiya
Biology happened to be what I was forced to filter down my curiosity to because of our education system. Even then I can only say that the current problem I deal with is categorised as biology. But maybe a decisive factor would be that I like complexity and meta organisations. So eco, evo and behaviour managed to hold my attention for long enough. And some encouraging life events.
Curiosity
Manali Chindarkar
Upon learning about the alleles that dictate our blood groups in School Biology, I found myself list all the possible cases and mine was case 20/21. This gave me a glimpse of how intricate yet interesting biology can be and how I love spending time getting to the root of it :D
Rushali Kamath
I loved science in my schooling days as I was shown in a practical way how theory worked. The experiment was copper sulphate regaining its blue colour on addition of water to its anhydrous state. I realised, that is what I want to know more about.
Akash Srinivas
The rabbit-hole to understand what makes 'us' led me engage with biology in all its forms
Manmath Kumar Rout
Fascinated by microbiology and bio techniques, I developed an interest in biology. The complexity of life and its healthcare applications led me to explore the medical development industry.
Prabhleen Kaur
I really wanted to understand the reason behind animal diversity while humans (the smartest) are all the same ;). This was when I was introspecting about what to do after 12th.
Mishraaashi
In my school days i used to teach people and not people then even my lamps. after giving a few lectures to my lamp about blood circulation and heart functioning and molecular mechanisms i realized that this is what i want to pursue as my profession.
Subhiksha
High school biology introducing something invisible known as DNA that makes you unique and it can be tweaked, kind of kindled my interest to dive into biology at molecular level.
Zakhiya
What was around me, time and the freedom to explore got me curious. And I fortunately found enough to keep that curiosity alive. a lot of books and good teaching helped me relate and channel.
Ishani
Channeling my inner Hermione - When I was doing my M.Sc dissertation work, I had a really fun time even with the mundane bits - data entry, coding etc. When the results of my data came through, I knew that for a little while, I was the only person on the planet who knew them, and that was exhilarating! I was so excited to share the research during presentations, conferences and contributing to research, that that's when I knew I wanted to work in scientific research :)
Anjana Hegde
My interest in drawing surroundings and nature since childhood inspired me to combine my profession and passion. I also love to observe intricate structures of insects, plants, or structures under microscope and paint it.
Abhishek
I was fascinated by biology from around class 7. I used to make notes inn the form of flow charts and diagrams based on text (using my imagination) which helped me in developing further interest in the subject. I was sure that I wanted to pursue biology after class 10 and the lucrative option at that point seemed medicine. I gave the entrances and when I could not clear them and enrolled myself for a BSc program. I was considering other options at that point as I was not aware of PhD and Post PhD opportunities. Then I applied for a summer internship program and got selected for it. That is when I realised that one can do research which one likes and get paid for it and considered doing a PhD seriously. I liked all the areas within biology during BSc. I read a book "survival strategies" and found answers to the existential questions which I had at that point which is when I got super interested in evolutionary biology. My perspective and outlook about life in general changed after reading and understanding evolution. This could be a personal bias but I strongly feel that this is one area of science which unifies multiple fields including social studies and humanities.
Nature
Dr. Anula Divyash Singh
My love for biology began in childhood, fascinated by the plants, animals, and insects around me. Though I excelled in math, I was drawn to biology and chose it over math in school, initially aiming to become a doctor. After multiple attempts at competitive exams, I found my passion in biotechnology. I pursued a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in biotechnology, earning a gold medal. My career evolved through roles in drug discovery, cancer biology, translational research, and an industrial PhD at IIT Hyderabad, where I received the Prime Minister’s Fellowship. Now a Senior Scientist, I continue to chase new frontiers in research. Despite the challenges of balancing marriage and motherhood, I continue to push boundaries in research while embracing both family and career.
Rahul
I used to collect velvet water mites from nearby ponds. I used to pluck milkweed flowers for worshipping lord Shiva for my mom and observed the metamorphosis of butterfly for first time.
Pavithra
I got interested in
biology by looking at my personal gardens beautiful flowers and pollinators visiting them
Nature and life around me got me interested in biology since childhood, I would pick flowers and leaves a lot. Then I got interested in the genes that bring all these variations in the living world.
Tanhaji
Since my childhood I am interested in the nature and its association in life, So this was the reason. And as science books were dealing with this so I got interested in science.
Rahul
My father had transferable job and often l was alone with nature (trees, squirrels, birds, flowers, caterpillars, etc.). I liked observing things in nature. Also
I got some wonderful teachers.
Rahul
I used to collect velvet water mites from nearby ponds. I used to pluck milkweed flowers for worshipping lord Shiva for my mom and observed the metamorphosis of butterfly for first time.
Rahul
Once I was also guilty of the death of two unborn birds as I put rice grains in its nest so that mother did not have go away but some other bird came and broke eggs to feed on rice.
Vishnu
My childhood began with insects (how they walk with so many legs) and birds (why colours never fade away like in flowers), heard old stories from grandparents about birds, weather the interconnectedness in all this. That fascinated me the most never got over it till date. Innate curiosity to know more about Nature.
Life situations
Miscellaneous
People from poor financial background finding difficulty to access expensive diagnostics; being grown around nature insects have always fascinated me (especially their behaviour and evolution - ability to mimic other insects or plant structures).
Alka
When my mother was facing cancer, I was a high school student and didn't know anything about cancer and its type. therefore I made the decision to learn more about it.
Alka
When my other was facing cancer, I was a high school student and didn't know anything about cancer and its type. therefore I made the decision to learn more about it.
Dhirendra
In my school I got interested in biology and during a break after my B.Sc, one of my cousin sisters faced fertility issues. So I decided to switch my studies again in hopes of being able to do something for her.
External influence
Olivia
During my 11th standard , when my biology teacher described how our whole body functions and how from a single cell , the whole system is built . That kind of intrigued me to learn more about Biology!
Olivia
In my school days human body fascinated me a lot. I found reproductive system, developmental biology, cell growth, its function and division was very interesting. Best part was I was able to visualise them all. Luckily got good teachers and decided to go for a biology career.
Shutija
It was my 12th grade when my biology professor very enthusiastically introduced us to the concept of biology. I was intrigued by the idea of creating designer babies (LOL), which was one of the application of biotechnology that sir was explaining to us. I then thought, THIS IS IT. I AM MAKING DESIGNER BABIES. Lame I know, but that is how my journey towards my career started. ;)
Miscellaneous
A very unexpected compliment from a strict Biology teacher in class 9th. He complimented the way I wrote about life and animals in the exam. It was the first time I think that I could relate to a subject.
Harshit
During my middle
school, I got this impression that most of the basic science has been already done in case of chemistry and physics. So, I chose biology. I personally like PCB alike.
Anjana
I was interested initially in environmental science in school and plants around me. Our 6th std science teacher introduced us to budding and grafting and I guess this was when I developed an interest in science, mainly biology, the practicals side of it. Biology ended up being my favourite subject in school and after learning that studying biology was an option, I went on to pursue a degree with research training.
Anupama
Thanks to my 11th class biology teacher, who created the passion in me to teach as well as pursue the field of biology. Particularly at what chemical languages organisms use to interact. I guess that interest unknowingly had led me to work both on animal (hormones) as well as plant chemicals (fragrances). And also in the era of peer pressure into professional degree courses, I wanted to do something different by joining pure basic sciences.
Bhavneet
It was at IISER Mohali, 2nd year when we had a course on Ecology and Behaviour. I am deeply fascinated by behaviour studies in general and applications of maths in manipulating bio comp. Almost all my friends were biologists and as a Mathematics thesis student l didn't have to be anywhere, so I was everywhere where my friends went.
Ashish
6th grade, when my science teacher taught me about DNA and said there are 4 type of letters there which makes us, I found myself attached to the biology specially learning more about DNA and phenotypes.
Media
Monjuri Hembram
Story of Satish Kumar on converting plastic to fuel ignited my interest and ideas about being a scientist and playing around with science.
Abhijit Kulkarni
Watching Wildlife documentaries growing up. It is our weekend ritual till date.
Aswathy
Jurrasic Park and its sequel, Lost World :D and animated biology teachers (didn't matter what they taught, just their excitement was infectious)
Trisha
I got interested in biology first (very medical context) because of this "bio-tale" of a neurosurgeon called Dr Alfredo Q Hinojosa in a Reader's Digest Edition.
Nishtha
The way life works fascinated me since childhood; loved biology in school. Was blown away by an article on BT-cotton in India Today - Computers and Biology?!! Since then decided to become a Biotechnologist.
Wow! How do
they do that...
Ipshita
When I went on a class trip to NIMHANS and was able to see the human brain in different conditions and of different ages, as well as being able to hold different things like a spinal cord... I think that's when it became real for me and I wanted to learn more about science but esp biology :D
Piyush
I visited PEC, Chandigarh for an open house and it sparked my interest in engineering. Later I heard about the prospects of biotechnology during my 12th class. I thought of combining engineering and biology. Also, my father worked at a museum so I was used to seen natural history it also created some interest in biology.
Ipsa
8th grade I visited NDRI for science day and saw the an agarose gel and DNA shining orange under UV. I was just starting to learn about DNA. I felt super cool and I thought all these young people who have access to doscovery and knowledge frist aree so lucky and I want to be one of those.
Ebinesh
Internship at Banglore Bioinnovation Centre (2019) at Electronic City is where I got bio inspiration from.
Visits and exposure
Also refer to the blog section 'The Self in Science' for letters that Biotales participants wrote to younger people or selves where they discuss some of their motivations to study biology or pursue research in it. Below, we present a selection of such articles:
About Ipshita
Ipshita Raj is a visual designer, illustrator and writer, with a B.Des in Visual Communication and Strategic Branding from Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology. Her interests lie in science and anything creative- but especially when it comes to combining the two. Her current project observes the usage of colour and how it has changed in Indian art, through a historical lens.
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Just Go with the Flow
BHAVNEET
"I am telling you this because I want you to understand, that you don’t have to know what you want to do in science. It’s not an intersection of roads, rather you are in a boat called Life floating in the ocean of scientific pursuits, and you can pick any direction you want. And guess what? You can always edit your course as you go along."
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