Scientific Temper - Indian Scientists (Documentary)

 "Scientific Temper by Indian Scientists" is an Insightful documentary that describes the concept of Scientific temper, which is actually the Corner Stone of rational thinking and Scientific inquiry. Scientific temper is an envisioned one in the Indian Constitution under Article 51 (A) H. The Biotech channel published this documentary film in Youtube, where the renowned Indian Scientists defined Scientific Temper. Moreover, through their words they share their perspectives on the importance of cultivating a Scientific mindset for societal growth and innovation.  

A Trip to Infinity - Science Documentary

'A Trip to Infinity' (2022) is a Science documentary that explores the concept of infinity from various perspectives including mathematics, physics and Philosophy. This film was produced by Curious channel that takes the audience through various cosmological theories and discoveries. 'A Trip to Infinity' explains profound phenomena such as the Big Bang, the expansion of the Universe, dark matter, dark energy and Black holes. Apart from these, it raises questions about the nature of the universe, the limits of human understanding and the implications of Infinity.

Meditations on first Philosophy - Preface to the Reader - Rene Descartes

 Rene Descartes (1596-1650) was a French Philosopher, Mathematician, and scientist, widely regarded as the "Father Of modern Philosophy". His ideas have left a profound and lasting influence on western Philosophy, Science and Mathematics. Some critics were of the opinion that his method of radical doubt was an attack on traditional beliefs, and church. So, in his "Meditations on the first Philosophy” that was written in 1641, he stressed the need of six meditations that  reconcile reason with faith to explore the nature of the self, the existence of God and the distinction between mind and body. In the 'Preface to the Reader' of this book Descartes talks about the existence of God and the soul.

Nano Clay - The Liquid Turning Desert to Farmland - Rachel Lovell

 

Rachel Lovell is a well known journalist known for her work on environmental and agricultural topics. Her, "Nano Clay: The Liquid Turning Desert to Farmland was published in 2020. This article that appeared in 'Fellow Food' presents a hopeful glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture in arid regions. Desert control, a Norwegian Company and the Great Green wall project in Africa are at the forefront to combat desertification and restore degraded land. Nano clay technology has helped them transform the barren deserts into productive farm land.

A Study in Emerald-Neil Gaiman

 

Neil Gaiman Neil Gaiman (1960-) is a British writer, Who is best known for the comic Book series, "The Sandman" and the novels "Stardust" and "American Gods". Neil Gaiman's 'A Study in Emerald' that won him the Hugo award, is a detective story published 2003. He has derived its title from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, 'A study in Scarlet' that introduced Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in 1887. Moreover, 'A Study in Emerald' shares a parallel structure and similar crime. The detective and his friend in this story are also quite clearly setup to be seen as Holmes and Watson. 'A study in Emerald' revolves around  a corpse found at a derelict house in Shoreditch, London and its investigation.

'A love poem for lonely Prime numbers' - Harry Baker

 

Harry Baker (1992-) is a British poet, author, who became the youngest ever 'Poetry World Slam' champion in 2021. Usually slam poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel  of judges for three minutes. The themes of Harry Baker's poems range from hope, dinosaurs, self-acceptance, and math. His poems are mainly based on feelings and emotions.  'A love poem for lonely Prime numbers' of Harry Backer was translated into more than twenty languages. 'A love poem for lonely Prime numbers' deals with the love of '59' with '60' and his realizing later that only '61' is apt to whom he has to give his heart.  

'Pi'-Wislawa Szymborska

 

Maria Wislawa Anna Szymborska (1923-2012) is a well known Polish poet, who won Nobel prize for Literature In 1996. Szymborska's poetry is often noted for its wit, irony, and deceptive simplicity. She has authored more than fifteen books of poetry. The Poem "Pi" is taken from her "Map: Collected and Last poems" (2015), ' Pi' (π) is the Latin name of the sixteenth Greek letter 'Π', that is used as a mathematical symbol. It is approximately Calculated as 3.141. It is considered as the ratio of circumference of a circle to its diameter. "'Pi' day" is also celebrated on 14th day of March from 1988, on the basis of its value 3.141.

On Earth as in The Heavens - Neil de Grasse Tyson

Neil de Grasse Tyson (1958-) is an American astrophysicist, author and science communicator. In 1996, he became the director of Hayden Planetarium. 'On Earth as in The Heavens is an essay by Neil de Grasse Tyson published in the " Natural History" magazine in 2000. Here he talks about the universality of Physical laws that are applicable both in Earth and everywhere in the universe. He has effectively used the theories of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein to establish his arguments.

We live in an age of Cancer - Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee meets Adam Rutherford

 

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a renowned Indian-American oncologist, biologist and author. He is best known for his book' The Emperor of all Maladies: A biography of Cancer that won Pulitzer prize and Guardian first book award. The government of India Conferred on him the Padma Shri in 2024. In an interview With Adam Rutherford, a well known geneticist and Science Communicator, Siddartha Mukherjee talks about the need to foster a cancer awareness and to promote healthy life Style to reduce the risk of Cancer.

The Star

 

Sir. Arthur. C. Clarke (1946-2008) is a British Science fiction writer, futurist and inventor. He is also known as the "Prophet of the Space age'. He was a lifelong proponent of space travel. 'A Space Odyssey (1968) and 'Rendezvous of Rama' (1973) are his famous works. 'The Star' was published in 1955 in 'Infinity Science Fiction' and won Hugo award for best Story in 1956.  Arthur. C. Clarke's 'The Star' deals with a group of explorers who embarked upon remnants of an advanced civilization destroyed by a Supernova three thousand light years away. Clarke excellently presents the Scientific fact and his theological reflections in this story.

All Palaces are temporary Palaces - Rosebud Ben Oni

Rosebud Ben-Oni is a Latina-Jewish American Poet, who is known for her creations that often blend Scientific Concepts with personal and emotional themes. She is the recipient of 'The Alice James Award' in 2019. Her "All Palaces are temporary Palaces” deals with her conversation with six year old niece, who asks questions about asteroids and precious metals. Actually it makes her think about Asteroid mining, Quarks, the vastness of the universe, the nature of existence and the impermanence. Thus the poem explores the tension between the desire for permanence and the reality of transience, the temporariness.

Module II Wonders of Science: Albert Einstein's 1930 Berlin Speech

 

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German born theoretical Physicist, who is best known for his theory of Relativity and for his mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc². For his great services to theoretical physics, he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. He delivered a speech on August 22, 1930 in Berlin, at the opening of the Seventh German Radio Exhibition. Apart from emphasizing the importance of recognizing the collaborative nature of Scientific and technological advancement, he reminded the audience not to forget the countless Individuals who contributed to the development of radio technology.

Only an Axe Away

The Silent Valley in the Western Ghats is a Pristine Stretch of tropical rain forest in Kerala and is one of the most bio-diverse places on the earth. In the 1970 and 1980s, plans to construct a dam across the Kunthi river, proposed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) sparked a fierce debate about the future of this unique ecosystem. A monumental campaign led by environmentalists, scientists, teachers, students and local communities succeeded at the end and the Silent Valley Rainforest was declared as a national park in 1984.