Science Slam

And the Winners of the 2020 Science Slam are...

Saumya Silori

PhD Student, CSIR National Institute of Oceanography, Goa

Slam Title: "Phytoplankton and the Fish: A tale from the sea"

"Ph.D. student in Biological Oceanography, trying to learn one experiment at a time, likes to read non-fiction and be amazed by nature."

"The EURAXESS science slam is a great opportunity for young researchers to showcase their science to a broader audience. Additionally, it has helped me look at my research from a bird’s eye view and put it in perspective within a larger context. This journey to the final slam has been informative and satisfying, with the EURAXESS team mentoring and guiding us through the process. I had never imagined that I would be strumming a guitar while presenting my work. Now I am enthusiastic about interacting with the researchers and science communication experts in Europe whose work has fascinated me all these years. I am optimistic that the interaction with the experts will lead to meaningful collaborations and impactful scientific output."

Rohit Sarkar

Rohan Sarkar

PhD Student, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata

Slam Title: "Winner,winner, Free-ranging dogs' dinner"

"Storyteller | Canine ethologist | Comic book aficionado. Loves a good mystery in both fiction and science. Interested in the twists and turns in dog behaviour and cognition that resulted from their domestication."

"The EURAXESS Science Slam is a great platform to share the science that we do with the audience at large. It is a great way to showcase that science and scientists can be fun and break the existing stereotypes. Although the pandemic prevented me from enjoying the pre-covid EURAXESS Slam awesomeness I had heard about, it challenged me to do things in a new way and let me bring my work alive in a way it wouldn't have been possible to do on stage. I learnt a lot of things on the fly, including stop motion photography and origami, the latter of which is quickly turning into a hobby. I would like to thank the EURAXESS team for providing me with this platform and for all their guidance. I am really excited about my Europe trip and hope to learn all that I can from some of the leading minds in Europe and hopefully take my science to the next level."

4 exceptional finalists were invited to battle for the 1st prize this year - the EURAXESS Science Slammer title and a round trip to Europe to visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in 2021.

Watch the Science Slam 2020 LIVE Finals HERE

And the other two finalists were (in alphabetical order):

Lamiya Dohadwala

PhD Student, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

Slam title: "War against skin cancer"

"Blogger-turned-researcher on a quest to answer the know-hows of embryonic development. A sucker for perfectly imaged embryos, postcards and all things blue. reading-cum-travel fanatic, frequently seen raving about my latest read or plotting my next trip. Typically, a cheerleader for women in STEM."

Urveshkumar Soni

Charotar University of Science and Technology, Changa, Gujarat

Slam Title: "Magnetic Nanorobots: Rainbow through Smart Liquid in Laboratory"

"Ph.D. Student and Teaching Assistant. Curious Creature, Self-motivated, Experimental Physicist, Working on the Optical Applications of Magnetic Fluid and/or Ferrofluid. Science Communicator, Sports lover, and Travel Enthusiast!!! Love these Stuffs. Sharing What I am Learning."

Members of the Jury

Ms. Anwesha Majumder, Chief Representative Officer, Nuffic Neso India

Ms. Harini, Calamur, Head of Science Communication Division, Cactus Communications

Mr. Milan Dosta, Science and Technology Counsellor, Czech Embassy New Delhi

Dr. Smita Jain, Executive Director, Indiabioscience

Ms. Tania Friederichs, Head of R&I Section, Delegation of the European Union to India

Dr. Vivek Dham, Senior Advisor, R&I Section, Delegation of the European Union to India

Dr. Praveen Kumar, Ass. Prof. IACS Kolkota, Chair Marie Curie Alumni Association Indian Chapter

Partner Organisations

The EURAXESS Science Slam India 2020 was organised in partnership with Cactus Communications, Delegation of the European Union to India, Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi, IndiaBioscience and Nuffic Neso India.

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EURAXESS Science Slam India 2019

The 7th EURAXESS Science Slammer Sayani Das, Graduate Student, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai says "The EURAXESS Science Slam India is a wonderful, powerful and entertaining opportunity to communicate your scientific research out of your lab and bring it to the common people. It was indeed a great learning experience as it forced me to think differently on how to share the scientific knowledge to everyone in a fun-filled manner. EURAXESS India made it possible for my hobby (dance) and my passion (research) to join hands and make my slam a successful one. Also, this gives you the opportunity to meet new people, travel to new places, and build potential future collaborations. The exciting part is, it offers a Europe trip to the winner, and I am eagerly looking forward to my trip to visit leading research institutions in Europe. I am sure this will give me the chance to interact with the global leaders in science, which will surely be a stepping stone to my future research career."

The 7th live final of the EURAXESS Science Slam India 2019 was organised in partnership with Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), the Consulate General of the Federal Republic Germany, Bengaluru, Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA), Goethe-Zentrum Trivandrum, India Bioscience and The World Bank Group on 30 November 2019 in Trivandrum.

Five exceptional finalists were invited to battle for the 1st prize this year - the EURAXESS Science Slammer title and a round trip to Europe to visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in 2020. Pictures of the event can be seen on Facebook.

And the 2019 finalists were...

Ms Sayani Das, Graduate Student, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai with Sensing Mercury: Easier than Ever !!

Mr Akshaykumar Desai, Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay with An Exciting Story of Fuel Cells

Mr Satyajeet Gupta, Graduate Student, RMB lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (KA) with Nature's way of handling bad hitchhikers

Mr Nishant P, PhD Student, School of Pure and Applied Physics , Kannur University with Physics of musical instruments of God's own country

Ms Anupma Thakur, PhD Scholar, DST-INSPIRE Fellow, CSIR-CSIO,Chandigarh with Hydrogen: The coal of future

Note: Finalists listed in alphabetical order.

Members of the 2019 Review Panel:

Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya (Scientist and Science Communicator at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR)

Dr. Jyoti Rao (Scientist, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune)

Dr. Mohit Kumar Jolly (Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Science Bangalore)

Dr. Navodita Jain (Science Education and Communication Coordinator, IndiaBioscience)

Ms. Nimisha Singh (Assistant Professor, Birla Institute of Management Technology)

Dr. Samrat S. Kumar (Country Representative, EURAXESS India)

Partners and Supporting organisations 2019:

The EURAXESS Science Slam India 2019 was organised in partnership with Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), the Consulate General of the Federal Republic Germany, Bengaluru, Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA), Goethe-Zentrum Trivandrum, India Bioscience and The World Bank Group.

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EURAXESS Science Slam India 2018

prabhahan_ch_pic

The 6th EURAXESS Science Slammer Prabahan Chakraborty, Graduate Student (NCBS, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore) says "EURAXESS Science Slam guided me to a road where my twin passions of science and theatre merge into one. This is an amazing platform that encourages the young breed of science communicators like myself to innovate, entertain and enrich the common man about fundamental as well as applied research. I would like to thank the Euraxess team for bringing forth such a successful, one-of-a-kind event, both with a superbly organised workshop as well as the awesome live finals. I now eagerly look forward towards my trip to visit research institutions in Europe where I hope to interact with the global leaders in science, as a stepping stone to my future."

The 6th live final of the EURAXESS Science Slam India 2018 was organised in partnership with India Bioscience, Alliance française Bangalore, NMIMS, Embassy of France with the support of Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) and Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) on 17 November 2018 in Bengaluru.

Five exceptional finalists were invited to battle for the 1st prize this year - the EURAXESS Science Slammer title and a round trip to Europe to visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in 2019. Pictures of the event can be seen on Facebook.

And the 2018 finalists were...

Mr Prabahan Chakraborty, Graduate Student (NCBS, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore) with How does stress affect our brain, and how can we fight back?

Ms Nidhi Rawat

Ms Nidhi Rawat, PhD candidate (ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Buffalo, Hisar) with IVF Blabber: A journey of miracles

Ms Charu Seth

Ms Charu Seth, PhD candidate (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai) with Hunny, We Shrunk The Circuits

Ms Gita Singh, PhD candidate (SVKM's NMIMS Sunandan Divatia School of Science, Mumbai) with Journey of a Capacitor to Supercapacitor

Mr Viraj R. Torsekar, PhD candidate (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) with Does the risk of mate-searching communication influence predator-prey space use strategies?

Note: Finalists listed in alphabetical order.

Members of the 2018 Review Panel:

Ms. Anupama Ambika Anilkumar (Scientific Coordinator at Section for Science & Technology, Embassy of France in India)

Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya (Scientist and science communicator at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR)

Dr. Jérôme Bove (Scientific and academic attaché, Embassy of France in India – Bangalore)

Mr. Vivek Dham (Policy Officer, Department of Research & Innovation, European Union Delegation to India)

Ms. Dr. Navodita Jain (Science Education and Communication Coordinator, IndiaBioscience)

Dr. Samrat S. Kumar (Country Representative, EURAXESS India)

Ms. Dr. Reeteka Sud (Research Coordinator, ADBS Consortium, NIMHANS Bangalore)

Dr. Karthik Ramaswamy (Visiting Scientist, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore)

Dr. Purvi Bhatt (Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, NMIMS)

Follow the EURAXESS Science Slam and more on facebook: EURAXESS India and EU in India.

Partners and Supporting organisations 2018:

The EURAXESS Science Slam India 2018 organised in partnership with India Bioscience, Alliance française Bangalore, NMIMS, Embassy of France with the support of Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) and Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC).

- Alliance française Bangalore

Embassy of France

NMIMS

IGSTC

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EURAXESS Science Slam India 2017

priyankadasgupta

The 5th EURAXESS Science Slammer, Priyanka Dasgupta, MSc. student (University of Delhi) says "A platform to catapult scientists/communicators into the league of their dreams. EURAXESS Science Slam became a golden ticket for me to the mecca of Science in Europe. All this while also making the journey incredibly educative, fun and memorable. This is the platform you want to be on!"

The 5th live final of the EURAXESS Science Slam India was organised in partnership with Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA), the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) and IndiaBioscience with the support of Finnair in Kolkata on 8th December 2017. Exceptionally five finalists were invited to battle for the title of EURAXESS Science Slammer India and a trip to Europe to attend a science communication training and visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in spring 2018. Pictures of the tour can be seen on facebook.

And the 2017 finalists were...

Mr Mayur Bonkile, PhD candidate (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai) with Love Story of Lithium-ion Battery

Ms Priyanka Dasgupta, MSc. student (University of Delhi) with Inside The Brain- "Effect of Theatre on Creativity and Cognition"

Ms Padma N, Senior Assistant Professor (New Horizon College of Engineering, Bengaluru) with Correlation of Soil and Corrosion Science

Ms Ananya Rakshit, PhD candidate (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR, Mumbai) with Catch the excess Copper, if you can!!

Mr Calvin Warjri, PhD candidate (North Eastern Hill University-NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya) with How Healthy is Our Fish?

Members of the 2017 Review Panel:

Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya (scientist and science communicator at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR)

Ms. Tania Friederichs (Research & Innovation Counsellor, European Union Delegation to India)

Dr. Reeteka Sud (Science Education Coordinator, IndiaBioscience)

Ms. Ainhitze Bizkarralegorra Bravo (Country Representative, EURAXESS Links India)

Partners and Supporting organisations 2017:

The EURAXESS Science Slam India 2017 organised in partnership with Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA), the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) and IndiaBioscience with the support of Finnair.

BACK TO EURAXESS India

EURAXESS Science Slammer India 2016

The 4th EURAXESS Science Slammer, Damanbha Lyngdoh, a PhD candidate at St. Anthony's College, North Eastern Hill University-NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya says " Explaining science and making sense out of it to a general audience is a challenging task. EURAXESS Science Slam 2016 provided that platform for students/ researchers/ teachers to effectively communicate (without scientific jargons) their complex and complicated scientific research to the general public. It was a great learning experience as it challenged me to think "outside the box" on how to share and disseminate the scientific knowledge to everyone.

On the whole, the event was a great success and I am sure that everybody must have benefited from it in some way or the other. Europe is an academic hub and has a lot to offer to young researchers like me. I am very sure that future winners will benefit from such outings"

The 4th live finals of the EURAXESS Science Slam India was organised in partnership with the BITS Pilani, Nuffic Neso India-Study in Holland and IndiaBioscience with the support of B.M.Birla Science Centre and Finnair at the B M Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad on 18 November 2016. Exceptionally six finalists were invited to battle for the title of EURAXESS Science Slammer India and a trip to Europe to attend a science communication training and visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in June 2017. Pictures of the tour can be seen on facebook.

2016 finalists were...

Mr Ashish Jha, PhD candidate (CSIR- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad) with “Tale of the Bulbuls”

Mr Ananth Krishna, Master student (Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana) with “The KMOSala Mix(?)”

Mr Damanbha Lyngdoh, PhD candidate (North Eastern Hill University-NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya) with “Do not judge a book by its cover – A tale from India’s North-East”

Ms Richa Pande, PhD candidate (National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad) with “How media and marketing strategies influence our food choices”

Mr Avtar Sain, PhD candidate (VIT University Vellore, Tamil Nadu) with “Phage Therapy for infectious diseases”

Ms Kshama Sharma, PhD candidate (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR, Mumbai) with “Magnets to the rescue of the world”

Members of the 2016 Review Panel:

Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya (scientist and science communicator at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-TIFR)

Ms. Tania Friederichs (Research & Innovation Counsellor, European Union Delegation to India)

Dr. Jugnu Jain (CEO and Co-Founder, Sapien Biosciences & Saarum Sciences)

Dr. Joby Joseph (Associate Professor, Center for Neural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hyderabad)

Dr. Rahul Nigam (Assistant Professor, BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus)

Dr. Ramakrishna Vadrevu (Associate Professor, BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus)

Ms. Ainhitze Bizkarralegorra Bravo (Country Representative, EURAXESS Links India)

Partners and Supporting organisations 2016:

The EURAXESS Science Slam India 2016 organised in partnership with BITS Pilani, Nuffic Neso India-Study in Holland and IndiaBioscience with the support of B.M.Birla Science Centre and Finnair.

BACK TO EURAXESS India

EURAXESS Science Slammer India 2015

"The EURAXESS Science Slam India is a wonderful fun-filled opportunity to communicate your scientific work to the common people. Also, you meet new people, travel to new places, explore new work opportunities and potential future collaborators. It offers a Europe trip to the winner, and I am quite confident that all the winners from around the world enjoy that trip to their fullest." by Souvik Mandal, PhD candidate, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. As part of his EURAXESS Europe tour, Souvik chose to visit the Research Centre on Animal Cognition - UMR 5169 (CNRS) at Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse in France.

The 3^rdlive finals of the EURAXESS Science Slam India was organised in partnership with theIndian Institute of Science (IISc) and IndiaBioscience, and with the support of Alliance française Bangalore, Finnair and Philips Innovation Campus at Alliance française in Bengaluru on 30 October 2015. Exceptionally six finalists were invited to battle for the title of EURAXESS Science Slammer India and a trip to Europe to attend a science communication

training and visit a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in June 2016. Pictures of the tour can be seen on facebook.

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EURAXESS Science Slammer India 2014

"A very powerful and entertaining way to disseminate scientific knowledge to a broad audience. Fun now has a new definition - Slam your way to Europe!" by Anand Kant Das, PhD candidate, Tata Institue of Fundamental Research (TIFR).The 2nd live finals of the EURAXESS Science Slam India was organised with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) at Café Zoe in Mumbai on 1 November 2014. Five finalists were invited to battle for the title of EURAXESS Science Slammer India and a trip to Europe to attend a science communication training and visit

a research institute of the winner's choice in the European Union in spring 2015.

Watch here his video on the Science Slam.

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EURAXESS Science Slammer India 2013

The first live finals of the EURAXESS Science Slam in India was co-organised with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune on 29 September 2013. Four finalists were invited to battle for the first title of EURAXESS Science Slammer India and a trip to Europe to attend a researchers conference. Ms Shraddha Karve, PhD student at IISER Pune won the contest, became India's first EURAXESS Science Slammer and embarked on a trip to Europe. Her slam was called 'Master of all trades is jack of none'. This is what she said: "Thinking about evolution in E. coli in terms of Wolverine and Calvin and Hobbes, rather than error bars and sample sizes, was a pleasant change. Slamming forced me to take a bird's eye view of my own work and provided me with an

opportunity to present that point of view to the international audience. Memorable experience."

Watch here her message on the Science Slam.