Events
How does the world of biological sciences research feel like?
What does the everyday life of an early career biologist look like?
What are the joys, anxieties and hopes of early career biologists?
What messages do they have for young people curious about biological sciences research?
If you are curious about the above questions, take a tour of our sci-art exhibition at National Science Day, HBCSE, which showcases the experiences and stories of biologists who are beginning their research careers.
When: Feb 28, 2025
Where: Room no.217, 2nd floor,
Main Building
Homi Bhabha Centre for
Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai
Past Events
Biotales at National Science (Open) Day at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education
(February 28, 2025)
Some of the biotales narratives found a place in a sci-art exhibition at the National Science (open) Day, 2025 at HBCSE. The narratives were presented together with an artefact from each story. The theme of the exhibition was “A Feeling for the Organism”, inspired by the biography of Barbara McClintock by Evelyn Foxkeller.
Stories that discussed specific organisms- model organisms in the laboratory or from the wild were exhibited. Some of the articles pertaining to the theme were exhibited and letters to younger people and selves were put inside envelopes and presented next to artefacts, which included a microscope, fish bowl, clay models of insects and worms and Palaeolithic stone artefacts. Young visitors interacted with the exhibits and read letters and articles. Please see the video below to get a glimpse of the flurry of activity in room 217, Main building, HBCSE on 28th February.
Biotales: the third workshop (February 8-9, 2025)
This online workshop had an interesting mix of laboratory and field based early career biologists who shared honest experiences of engaging in biological sciences research. Through structured activities involving reading, reflecting (through mentimeter polls), discussions and creative writing and art, they shared beautiful stories of the joys as well as the difficulties of doing research.
Stay tuned for more stories from the third cohort of the Biotales workshop!
Biobeats: Sounds from your Laboratory
A lab, through its instruments and people, and the interaction between the two, is a cacophony of sounds.
For example: the beeps and buzz of instruments, the click of the tip on the pipette, the rocking of blot in the rocking machine, the spinner dissolving the reagent tin the water, the slightly imbalanced centrifuge, the crackling of -80 C fridge, the sound of ELISA machine taking recording over each well, opening an Eppendorf tune, dismantling a western blot apparatus, the calm hum in the microscopy room, the noisy filter of cell hood, the list goes on.
Biotales: the second workshop (November 16-17, 2024)
Our second weekend workshop was held on 16th and 17th November, 2024. We interacted with an energetic group of 15 early career biologists who were reflexive and willing to share experiences. This time, we also had interdisciplinary researchers working in the intersection of biological sciences, archaeology, social sciences, and anthropology, alongside molecular biologists. It was heartwarming for us to see this group building a sense of community.
Biotales: the first workshop (September 28-29, 2024)
In our first workshop, a series of structured activities were organized, involving reading, writing, discussions, and making art to support our workshop participants’ reflections on their research journeys. Participants shared a range of experiences and emotions that they associate with research bringing out the unique ways in which they engage and think about the science that they do.
Read a brief note on on our first workshop here!
