Latest news with #PintofScience
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
In Bengaluru, pubs serve up science to the masses
What if Bengaluru's pubs, usually buzzing with nightlife, transformed into laboratories where scientists discussed their research? The city recently hosted Pint of Science, a global festival widely known for bringing science into pubs, where large groups of people gathered to talk, learn, and discuss various scientific topics. 'When I was in France, I was invited to an unusual party – science talks in a pub, but not to other scientists, just to regular people. I was mesmerised, and when I moved back to India, the idea struck me to bring the global festival to our country,' says Debarati Chatterjee, director of the festival in India. 'To burst misinformations, this event felt urgent' 'In today's time, when scientific misinformation floods the internet, people are exposed to all kinds of 'science' through random social media forwards without tools to discern what's credible,' states Debarati. 'Events like this provide necessary direct access: they hear from scientists, ask questions, clarify doubts, and witness how science truly operates,' she adds. Being able to enjoy science without the pressure of memorising it for tests is fun in itself. Add a bar setting with food and drinks, plus enthusiastic people, that's a recipe for a mind-tickling experience Aditya Tambi, a software engineer in Bengaluru 'Who'd come to listen to science talks on a night out? many, it turns out' 'Introducing this new concept in India was a huge challenge. Finding venues was tough, as pubs were skeptical, asking, 'Who would come to listen to science talks on a weeknight?' But after the first event, they saw a great turnout and immaculate energy. People were ordering drinks, having fun, and were also immersed in talks about neuroscience or quantum physics,' Debarati shares. 'The idea was to communicate science in everyday language' 'The core idea is to make research more approachable. Speakers were trained to communicate without jargon, to explain things using analogies, stories, and everyday language. It wasn't about dumbing it down, it was about meeting people where they are,' says Debarati. This approach resonated. 'Usually, science talks are full of technical terms that fly over my head. Here, it felt like the speaker was telling a story. I could follow along without feeling lost,' shared Anjali, a graphic designer in Bengaluru. When people start seeing science not as a 'difficult subject' but as something that's all around us, it becomes approachable Jalak Mehta, city coordinator, Bengaluru for the event 'There are a variety of careers in science, beyond medicine and engineering' 'Science spans across diverse domains, and highlighting research in a wide range of topics also provides information to the next generation to make informed decisions about future career paths, beyond IT and medicine. This is crucial as currently many science disciplines are neglected as career options in universities due to their lower popularity,' says Debarati. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
India Today
22-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Pint of Science Festival makes lively India debut across three cities
The world-renowned Pint of Science festival made its much-anticipated India debut from May 19 to 21, 2025, captivating audiences in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and from diverse fields of science traded their lab coats for microphones, sharing the latest breakthroughs in health, technology, and the cosmos with the public in the relaxed settings of local cafes and in the UK in 2013, Pint of Science has grown into a global movement, now spanning over 500 cities in 27 countries. Its mission: to break down barriers between researchers and society by making science accessible, engaging, and—above all— The Indian edition featured two venues each across three cities, and all events sold out in festival's opening night in Delhi spotlighted advances in cancer care and the mysteries of metastasis, while Bengaluru and Pune hosted talks on ecology, immunology, and the power of two delved into artificial intelligence, urban development, and the science of complexity, with speakers from IIT Delhi, JNU, and IIIT-Delhi demystifying topics like neuromorphic computing and computational wonders and sustainability took center stage on the final day, with presentations on dark matter, pulsars, and galactic on the positive role of radiation in medicine and agriculture, as well as strategies to combat invasive plant species, highlighted science's impact on society and the encouraged speakers to use visuals, memes, games, and storytelling, turning complex research into lively discussions and interactive Q&A was truly wonderful to see people of all age groups come together—not just to enjoy the food and drinks, but to engage with science, ask questions, and have fun with ideas that shape our world,' said Vishaka Ranjan, Delhi Coordinator for Pint of Science its resounding success, Pint of Science India plans to expand to more cities in 2026, allowing more researchers to step into the public sphere and making science a part of everyday conversation
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
First time in India, science breaks down walls between researchers, ordinary people
As with every good talk, this one began with an anecdote that was also a joke. It involved a scientist, a frog trained to jump on command, a cruel experiment that is repeated on many other frogs and a final, eye-opening conclusion — that frogs without legs are deaf. Shraddha Bhurkunde from IISER Pune was quick to clarify to a packed house at the Orange Art and Book Cafe in Aundh that this was a fictional narrative. What came next, however, were true stories, as far as science knows, about real-life events that led to the end of dinosaurs. Dinosaur doomsday unfolded through games, storytelling, banter, humour and scientific sleuthing. Bhurkunde's session inaugurated a one-of-a-kind event, Pint of Science festival, on a thundering, rainy Monday in Pune. Pint of Science is a concept that breaks down the wall between the people of science, such as researchers, and the rest of the population. The event is the concept of Dr Michael Motskin and Dr Praveen Paul, research scientists at the Imperial College London. In 2012, they invited people affected by Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, among others, into their labs to tell them about their research. A year later, the first Pint of Science festival opened in a pub, creating an informal space for some of the biggest names in science to 'explain their ground-breaking work to lovers of science and beer'. In the past 10 years, it has reached 27 countries. Now, for the first time, it is in India, with Pune, Delhi and Bengaluru being the selected cities. In Pune, the second venue is Doolally Taproom in KOPA Mall. The force behind bringing Pint of Science to India is Debarati Chatterjee, a theoretical astrophysicist at IUCCA who is an expert on analytical and numerical description of compact stars (neutron stars and white dwarfs). 'We have a wide spectrum, covering everything from astrophysics to neuroscience to AI to astrobiology and chemistry. I was really happy to get in touch with very well-known speakers in so many disciplines and came to know so much breakthrough work that is happening. I was really happy that there are so many women scientists who have come forward to support this outreach which will inspire a lot of young people,' says Chatterjee. Hamsa Padmanabhan from the University of Geneva took the audience, which included several Class VI students, through 'Lessons from the Earth's deadliest extinctions'. 'During its 4.5 billion-year-old history, our planet has been witness to at least five major extinctions. Of these, the most destructive one was called the Permian Triassic Mass Extinction, which took place around 252 million years ago and destroyed about 96 per cent of all marine and 70 per cent of all terrestrial species. But how did such a large-scale wipeout take place?' she said. As she spoke about how 'a sharp rise in carbon dioxide levels in the millennia leading up to the extinction, possibly triggered a global warming runaway and made conditions hostile for life', it was only a matter of time before it became evident that humans had learned nothing from the past. Sneha Rode went from Earth to Mars and back and forth and carried the audience along with captivating data, images and quizzes. Earth vs. Mars: The landform showdown changed ideas and challenged preconceptions about the similarities and differences between the blue and red planets. There were valleys and craters and a deep scar on the face of Mars and the fascinating Olympus Mont, the largest volcano in the solar system, which makes Earth's Everest look like a baby. Though it was late and raining, people still gathered around Rode as the venue buzzed with geology.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘Science isn't distant … it's in your city over a pint' – Pint of Science Festival kicks off in Dublin pubs
Like how artificial intelligence can interpret your emotions, or how sepsis can strike without warning, and what you should do if it does? Tonight marks the launch of the three-day Pint of Science Festiva l, taking place across nine pubs in Dublin. Running from May 19 to May 21, the festival invites the public to engage with researchers and scientists in a relaxed and informal setting. Pint of Science is a charity organisation committed to making science accessible to everyone. 'We are trying to break down the traditional barriers between scientists and the public,' says Dr Namrata Iyer, a microbiologist and director of Pint of Science Ireland. 'Science isn't just for labs and lecture halls. It's for everyone – and what better place to talk about it than over a pint?' Two events in Dublin will also include Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters. 'The interpreters study the talks in advance, prepare for technical terms, so that people can join in and enjoy,' says Dr Iyer, who one day hopes to give her own talk on topics like human microbiome or how women's health is underrepresented in science. One of the anticipated talks this Wednesday night comes from Professor Steve Kerrigan, Deputy Head of the School of Pharmacy (Research) at RCSI, whose work on sepsis focuses on saving lives by raising awareness. 'The whole point of Pint of Science is... I just want people to understand this is what sepsis is, from what we know what it is, and take it from there,' he says. Professor Kerrigan warns that the signs of sepsis are dangerously easy to miss. 'If you've got cancer, you may feel sick, and you'll go to your doctor and be looked after,' he said. 'If you have a stroke, there are visible signs – your face might change, your speech may slur, or you might have difficulty with your tongue. 'But with sepsis, nothing changes, and this is where the problem lies: it's non-specific. 'If people ignore the signs and symptoms associated with sepsis, that is when the infection spreads to all parts of the body and is very difficult to treat after that.' Rachna Gowlikar, co-manager of the event, says Pint of Science also brings people closer. 'It's a chance to walk into a pub, grab a pint, and ask a scientist, 'What exactly do you do, and why?' That simple question can spark real conversations and new ideas,' she said. 'Events like these don't just make science accessible, they make it human. It's not a lecture hall or a lab. 'It's a creative space where you meet locals, challenge ideas, and realise that science isn't distant. It's right here, in your city, over a pint.' Events run from 7pm to 9pm each evening, and the festival is free to attend. For full details visit
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Attention scientists and pub crawlers, Pint of Science is making its India debut
Discussing particle physics over a pint; debating the future of food sustainability over complimentary peanuts. Scientists hobnobbing with the public in a pub is not really what comes to mind when you think about serious science discussions. But that's what Pint of Science wants to change. The event, started by research scientists Praveen Paul and Michael Motskin, of the Imperial College London, in the U.K. 12 years ago, is today an annual global festival taking place in 500 cities across 27 countries. And this year, it is making its India debut in Bengaluru, Pune and New Delhi. Making science accessible Over the past decade, despite India's towering achievements in science and technology, data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics shows that there's been a near-stagnant investment in research and development (0.65% of GDP). In comparison, China spends 2.43%, the U.S. 3.46%, and South Korea 4.93%. It doesn't help that authoritarian governments have had a long-standing history of delaying or cutting funding, using political rhetoric to underplay the value of this field of study in the country and encouraging disbelief and doubt in the sciences. Besides pedagogy, which makes science seem 'scary and unapproachable', there is also the problem of equating science with application. 'Policymakers and politicians who make decisions of how much money should go into research, don't understand the importance of 'the why' behind the research, especially with regards to fundamental sciences [such as physics, chemistry, microbiology],' says astrophysicist Debarati Chatterjee, an associate professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune. 'Such research pushes our horizons of knowledge; they don't have immediate results or applications.' In 2017, Chatterjee — who is 'heavily involved in outreach programmes focussed on inspiring and encouraging the general public, especially women, to do science through fun means' — was invited to present her research at a local pub. At the time, she was working on her postdoctorate at the Université de Caen Normandie in France. 'I think I made a very pedagogical talk my first time. But after I incorporated animation into my presentation [at a later event], I remember it leading to vivid discussions,' she says. After participating in three editions in the subsequent years, volunteering at one and 'observing its impact' on people (as well as getting new perspectives on her own research), Chatterjee decided she wanted to bring Pint of Science to India. 'I love the informal and accessible format,' she says, adding that public-facing events that communicate science research to the public 'will have them paying closer attention to this field because it is being funded by taxpayers' money'. 'The everydayness of a pub or a cafe changes the dynamic. We already know we might meet someone who doesn't come from our world, so we're already open to listen to new information.'Basundhara Ghosh Physicist Breaking the classroom effect While Chatterjee cannot imagine a science talk in a pub while she was a student in India, today the presence of a craft beer and cafe culture, and a 'general public that has matured and is open to using these spaces to learn as well', the timing feels right. 'I have attended language meet-ups and craft workshops' at these venues, she says. 'The younger crowd is ready for this shake up; in fact they are enthusiastic about it.' Interestingly, in Pune, a similar format has been running successfully for almost a decade. Nakul Bhonsle, the founder-director of Pune's Great State Aleworks, and his friend, climate scientist Anoop Mahajan, inspired by the Pint of Science's format, have been running 'Science on Tap' at their microbrewery since 2016. 'Despite its huge research institutes, there's no interaction between the scientific community and the general public in Pune,' says Bhonsle. 'Anoop had heard of the concept in the U.K. and we adapted it. It's been a great event because it brings a different kind of audience into the microbrewery.' He attributes its success 'to the sessions being casual, and never feeling like a classroom or seminar'. Theoretical physicist Basundhara Ghosh from Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science echoes how the setting changes the 'perception of the sciences'. '[At IISc], I've seen how programmes that invite the public into these institutions are very popular, across all ages. Everyone is still fascinated by black holes, galaxies and dark matter, says Ghosh. 'But there's a gap between understanding the work actually being done and the public's curiosity for it.' And she feels events like Pint of Science 'are building a middle ground' for these gaps to be reduced. Origin story Before it took on this more organised version, Pint of Science was an event called 'Meet the Researchers' in 2012. Paul and Motskin organised it to bring people affected by Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis into their research labs and help them understand the developments and stopgaps in the research being done to control and cure these diseases. It was a huge success. The following year in May, the duo shifted the location from their lab to pubs, and ran the first Pint of Science festival across three cities in the U.K. Memes and humour to break the ice At the inaugural India edition, Ghosh will pepper her talk on 'The Universe is expanding – What's the big deal?' with memes, pop culture references and a sense of humour. 'In our contemporary world, memes act as mnemonics — like the anime boy releasing the butterfly, or the scans of neurons lighting up — so adding them into my presentation along with technical diagrams will allow people to retain the information,' she says. Another scientist spicing up his Pint of Science presentation, 'The Yin and Yang of Tree Invasion on Mountain Birds', with visual elements is Jobin Varughese. The ecologist and postdoctorate fellow at Bengaluru's National Centre of Biological Sciences switched careers while studying landscape architecture, after a component on ecology 'that focussed on preserving native plants and birds' piqued his interest. He started off by volunteering with bird census counts before realising that he could pursue science as a career. 'I didn't know people were studying birds in India,' he admits, adding that the 'different scientists and research topics being programmed as part of Pint of Science will open the public's imagination to other fields of study'. For Varughese, his participation in Pint of Science makes complete sense. 'I used to be on the other side, and so, I feel I have the ability to translate my research for the general audience.' Pint of Science takes place on May 19, 20 and 21 in Bengaluru, Pune and New Delhi. There's no age limit. For tickets, visit The writer and poet is based in Bengaluru.
