Solve puzzles and learn about astronomy as Sabah science returns in Chennai

Throughout the year, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) campus in Chennai’s Taramani sees young school-going students attempting experiments to improve their scientific acumen.

However, this is usually not enough. This area is not contained, and IMSc’s annual interrogation “The Science of Mackerel” does not hesitate to ask questions. Here, lectures on a wide range of topics are free and open to the public.

The 7th annual Science at the Mackerel is back, but this time the venue has changed. Mid-career scientists who are experts in the subject are trying to make astronomy, plastics, puzzles and the oceans around India accessible to the public through talks and data at the Anna Centenary Library . The organizing team is preparing for on-site questioning.

“Last year we had a lot of interesting questions about black holes. Children ask the most questions and we don’t hold them back. But we want everyone to participate: lawyers, doctors, journalists. ,” says IMSc professor KN Raghavan.

Back in 2016, Prof. Raghavan and Prof. Gautam Menon (now professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University) created an ‘open program’ where citizens could freely access the country’s top institutions and understand their inner workings.・We were discussing how India lacks a science day. This was different from the West, where cities like Munich opened their university doors to the scientifically curious. Ahead of this year’s National Science Day (February 28), the organization decided to make its resources available to the public and organize lectures to help them reflect on complex scientific questions.

Over the years, the Academy of Music’s famous halls, where Carnatic music is performed, eventually became home to conversations about neuroscience, ecology, and condensed matter physics.

Although the venue has changed, the format of Science in Sabah remains the same. He will have 4 sessions of 40 minutes each and at the end he will be asked questions for 5 minutes. Raghavan said he was looking forward to active participation in the session titled ‘The Art and Mathematics of Puzzle Solving’ by IMSc Professor Saket Saurabh. There will also be a session on understanding the dynamic nature of the Northern Indian Ocean by Mr. D. Shankar, Principal Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography, CSIR. Indian Institute of Science Professor S. Ramakrishnan provides an update on the oft-used adage “reduce, reuse, recycle, reinvent” when it comes to plastics. Mr. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, also introduced India’s extensive scientific achievements in astronomy.

A poster exhibition titled Climate Change in India: What do we know and how do we know it? Lectures on scientific models and data highlighting the impacts of climate change on the subcontinent will also be part of the event. outside the auditorium.

“It would be nice to have a Chennai Vignana Sangamam like the Chennai Sangamam, where the city comes together to celebrate science,” Raghavan says.

Until then, mackerel science has to do it.

The event will be held on February 18th from 4pm to 8pm in the Anna Centenary Library Auditorium. Admission is free. To register, log on to https://www.imsc.res.in/triveni/2024/.