Page 8 - SAU Connect March 2019

The Quarterly Newsletter of South Asian University | Volume 3 Issue 3 March 2019

School of Economics, New Delhi), Gurpreet Mahajan (Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi) and Prabhat Patnaik (Professor Emeritus, Center for Economic Studies and
Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi). The panel was chaired by Pulin Nayak (Former
Professor,DelhiSchoolofEconomics,NewDelhi).Thespiritedandlivelydiscussionintheinterdisciplinary
panel offered new perspectives and approaches to one of the most important debates in the socio-
politico-economic sphere of contemporary times in the South Asian region. The conference concluded
withavoteofthanksandclosingremarksdeliveredbytheconferencechairProf.SantoshC.Panda.

BioZest-2018
New Delhi (6.12.2018) SAU FLSB News: FLSB organized its
Annual Science Day, “BioZest”this year with an objective to
provide a platform for students and young scientists to
display their scientific knowledge through poster
presentationsandvariousscience-themedcompetitions.Dr.
Ravi Shankar Akundi, Dr. Rinkoo Gupta and Dr. Yubaraj
Pokharel organized the event in co-ordination with the
students of FLSB. The theme for BioZest 2018 event was
“Art in Science”, which was designed to explore the artistic
aptitude of students of science. Padmashree recipient Ms. Arnavaz Aga, Chairperson of Thermax Group,
and Ms. Subhra Priyadarshini, an award-winning science journalist and the Editor of Nature India and the
blog Indigenus were the invited keynote speakers. Ms. Aga has dedicated her time for the primary
education of underprivileged children and is the Chairperson of Teach for India. Talks were also delivered
by Prof. Rajiv Saxena, Professor Emeritus, SAU, and Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, CSIR-Institute for
Genomics and Integrative Biology, who inspired students not to neglect their hobbies but to successfully
balance passion for arts with a career in science. Prof. Saxena also enthralled the audience with a flute
performanceandDr.Chakrabortythroughasitarperformance.

Keeping with the theme, the various competitive events that were part of this program included ‘Recycle
Art’, wherein students made artwork using discarded lab consumables; ‘Biotoons’, a humorous take on
scientific concepts through cartoons; ‘Eggart’, wherein participants drew artwork on an egg; and ‘Coli
Streaks’, with artwork done through bacterial streak cultures. Ph.D. students also presented their work
imaginatively in the competitions ‘On the Cover’ and ‘!magica’. Scientific knowledge was creatively
explored through competitions such as ‘SciIQ’, a quiz competition; ‘SciCom’, a stand-up comedy on
scientific (mis)adventures; ‘SciHunt’, a scientific treasure hunt game; and ‘NeuroCorner’, to test one’s
cognitive skills. Each of these events is designed to spark the mind while simultaneously lightening up the
mood! In addition, students created the logo for FLSB and a short film showcasing the objectives and
achievements of FLSB. For all these competitions, participants also came from Delhi University, Jamia
Milia Islamia, AIIMS, IIT-Roorkee, Amity University, JNU and THSTI. BioZest 2018 culminated with an
evening cultural program that included song and dance performances from FLSB students as well as a
periodmusical,‘ScienceandPrejudice’,onthelifeofDr.RosalindFranklin.

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