Biology through the lenses of Evolution
April 2023
An initiative sponsored by European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution, Animal Behavior Society, British Ecological Society
and IISER Kolkata
Registrations are now closed.
Illustration: Michelle Thompson/The Guardian
Inspiring the country's future
The aim of this program is to empower educators and young biologists to instill a scientific mindset within themselves and their students while understanding biology using the framewok of evolution. The program is targeted for empowering generations of children from rural areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal to understand the interplay of evolution and biology in action. The program will be conducted in regional languages and English.
This will include a three day workshop, talks by eminent evolutionary scientists, activity modules, exhibition and an excursion for grand prize winners.
What is this program about?
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
(Theodosius Dobzhansky)
"Evolutionary thought is starting to have a significant impact on segments of medicine and the social sciences, including parts of anthropology, economics, political science and psychology”
(Stephen C. Stearns, 2008)
The lack of scientific temperament among citizens and policy makers in developing nations is evident. We aim to take a small step in empowering generations of students by inspiring teachers and young biologists to break through such misinformation and motivate them to develop a scientific temperament. Most outreach activities target students in school or higher educational institutions. Our program targets early career biologists, teacher trainees and present faculty to understand and visualize key concepts in evolution. While textbook-based knowledge of evolution is known by all, the aim of this program is to get inspired and excited by real life experiences by top biologists and evolutionary scientists in India where they talk about what motivated them. Participants will be exposed to the research going on in major institutions all across the country and be involved in activities designed by scientists to visualize and convey the essence of evolution in their day to day classes. Additionally, contrary to the traditional format of holding outreach activities within host institution campus typically in urban areas, we aim to take our activities to areas where there is a stark absence of such exposure.
Outline of the program
Phase I
Participants meet at IISER Kolkata for an interactive meet and greet with evolutionary biologists from top institutions in India. They will have a chance to listen to real life stories of these scientists that inspired them to pursue the study of biology and education in their careers. Further, activity modules will allow participants to think of novel ways to present key concepts in evolution to students.
Phase II
Engagement of teachers with school students to exchange knowledge on evolution.
Teachers will evaluate the children in their class based on their oral and written responses before and after the activities.
Teachers will provide a prize and certificate of merit to three students.
Phase III
Evaluation of each biology teacher and the three students who earned a certificate of merit (as a team 3:1) for their projects at the open evolution exhibition (to be held in both states).
Two awards for each state,
one for scientific content and
another is for popular engagement.
Phase IV
Winner teams will get sponsored excursion
trip to Kolkata’s Science city/BIT
Museum, National Museum,
Planetarium and Bird watching
(migratory) at Ravindra Sarovar.
Timeline
3-5th April 2023
Workshop at IISER Kolkata
Meet and interact with top evolutionary scientists
Demonstration of evolutionary activities in schools
Preparation by teams for public exhibition
17th April 2023
Public exhibition by teachers and their students in Jharkhand and West Bengal
20-21st May 2023
Excursion for grand prize winners
An all-expense paid trip to National Museum, Birla Planetarium and Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata
Prizes
Young Darwin Award
Awarded by teachers to top three students in their class
Ernst Mayr Award
Awarded by judges from a non biological background for best presentation at exhibition
Dobzhansky Award
Awarded by judges from organizing team for best presentation at exhibition
List of activities
01
Workshop
Inspirational talks by eminent evolutionary biologists along with novel methods to visualize key concepts in evolution
02
Exhibition
Student-teacher exhibition cum contest along with exciting talks on evolution
03
Excursion for Awardees
An all expenses paid trip to Kolkata for grand prize winners
Guest Speakers
Tanmay Dixit
Ph.D. Scholar
University of Cambridge
Speakers at Exhibition
Jharkhand
West Bengal
Contact
Workshop Address
Ashima Chatterjee Lecture Hall,
Teaching and Research Complex (TRC),
IISER Kolkata,
Gate number 7, Balindi,
Nadia, West Bengal- 741246
evobio2023@gmail.com
How to reach
From Sealdah: Take any local train going towards Kalyani/ Shantipur/ Ranaghat/ Krishnanagar and get off at Kalyani/Kalyani Simanta station. Buses and autos for IISER Kolkata (or Gate number 7) are available outside the station.
From Howrah: Take a bus from Howrah station to Sealdah station and take the abovementioned route.
From Gate no. 7, you can either walk inside the campus or take a toto/van and arrive at the Visitor Guest House.
Ashima Chatterjee Lecture Hall in located in TRC which is quite close to the guest house.
Host
IISER Kolkata
Sponsors
European Society for Evolutionary Biology
Society for the Study of Evolution
