Gradient

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.

Gradient

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

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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

Amitabh Joshi

Professor

JNCASR

Mohit Prasad

Professor

IISER Kolkata

Sumana Annagiri

Professor

IISER Kolkata

Silanjan Bhattacharya

Professor

West Bengal State University

Guha Dharmarajan

Associate Professor

Krea University

Anindita Bhadra

Associate Professor

IISER Kolkata

Milind Watve

Independant Researcher

IISER Pune (Retd.)

Anuradha Bhat

Associate Professor

IISER Kolkata

Manjari Jain

Associate Professor

IISER Mohali

Sudipta Tung

Faculty fellow

Ashoka University

Tanmay Dixit

Ph.D. Scholar

University of Cambridge

Speakers at Exhibition

Jharkhand

West Bengal

Mohit Prasad

Professor

IISER Kolkata

Anuradha Bhat

Associate Professor

IISER Kolkata

Anindita Bhadra

Associate Professor

IISER Kolkata

Sumana Annagiri

Professor

IISER Kolkata

Contact

Workshop Address

Ashima Chatterjee Lecture Hall,

Teaching and Research Complex (TRC),

IISER Kolkata,

Gate number 7, Balindi,

Nadia, West Bengal- 741246

E-mail

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