Dr. Vatsala Thirumalai on The Biology of Movement and the State of Indian Science

Dr. Gagandeep Kang on Virology, COVID-19, and Public Health Policy

Join us in a compelling conversation with Dr. Gagandeep Kang, one of India’s leading clinical scientists. From her pioneering work on rotavirus vaccines to her crucial role in India’s COVID-19 response, Dr. Kang shares invaluable insights on clinical research, building trust with communities, and the future of healthcare. Don’t miss her advice for young researchers and her thoughts on the data revolution in life sciences. About Dr. Kang: Dr. Gagandeep Kang, the first Indian woman elected to the Royal Society, is known for her transformative contributions to public health and vaccine development. She now serves in a key role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on global health systems and disease surveillance. Follow Us: Connect with ⁠Dr. Gagandeep Kang: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagandeep-kang-77536254] ⁠Follow ⁠Vignesh⁠ on X: @hrorq [https://twitter.com/hrorq] Follow us on ⁠X⁠: @IndxEcon [https://twitter.com/IndxEcon] Follow us on ⁠Instagram: @IndxEcon [https://www.instagram.com/indxecon/] ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - 00:14 - Theme 00:14 - 02:42 - On pursuing a career in Clinical Research 02:43 - 06:25 - On Mentors and Influences 06:26 - 08:25 - On Dr. Mary K. Estes 08:36 - 11:10 - On the early work on Rotavirus 11:11 - 23:46 - On Clinical Research and Building Trust with Communities 23:47 - 39:18 - The Problems of overanalysing Statistical Anomalies during Clinical Trials 39:19 - 44:02 - The Myth of Risk-Free Innovation 44:03 - 48:22 - On COVID-19 vs. Rotavirus 48:23 - 51:31 - The Role of Technology in India’s Response to COVID-19 51:32 - 54:11 - Executing in Emergency Situations versus Raising Standards of Excellence 54:12 - 57:40 - Advice to Young Researchers in the Post-COVID-19-era 57:41 - 1:00:30 - Crucial Policy Changes to Consider 01:00:31 - 01:06:38 - Dr. Kang’s New Role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 01:06:39 - 01:08:41 - On improving India’s Disease Surveillance Systems 01:08:42 - 01:10:35 - How to Approach Budget Allocation for Healthcare 01:10:36 - 01:13:17 - Preparing for the Data Revolution in Life Sciences 01:13:18 - 01:14:02 - One Piece of Advice Dr. Kang received 01:14:03 - 01:14:20 - Thanks

Dr. Vatsala Thirumalai on The Biology of Movement and the State of Indian Science

Dr. Vatsala Thirumalai [https://x.com/VatsalaT] is a distinguished neuroscientist at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore. With a background in Biotech Engineering from Anna University and a PhD in Neuroscience from Brandeis University, her research focuses on neural circuits and motor control, particularly Central Pattern Generators (CPGs). Her significant work with zebrafish models has provided key insights into motor control and its disorders. In this episode, Dr. Thirumalai discusses her academic journey, the importance of imagination in science, and the critical role of mentors. She also reflects on the current state of Indian science and envisions a collaborative future with active participation from both the private sector and government. Tune in for her insights on the evolving landscape of global science and the future of Indian scientists. 00:00 - 00:14 - Theme 00:15 - 02:15 - On the work of Bagyam Ramasami 0:16 - 07:30 - The Deeper Significance of Studying Neural Networks that support Movement 07:31 - 13:10 - On CPGs (Central Pattern Generators) 13:11 - 17:34 - On the Evolutionary Origins of CPGs 17:35 - 20:55 - What is Rhythm? 20:56 - 26:24 - On CPGs as a Window in the Brain 26:25 - 32:01 - From Undergrad in Biotech Engineering to PhD in Neuroscience 32:02 - 38:33 - The Most Elegant Theory Vatsala’s ever come across 38:34 - 45:02 - On the Zebrafish 45:03 - 50:38 - On the Ethics of Studying Animals for Scientific Progress 50:39 - 52:16 - On the Turing Test as the Four-Minute Mile 52:17 - 55:52 - On running tests on Animal Simulation vis-a-vis actual Animals 55:53 - 01:05:00 - On Intelligence Augmentation in Mammals 01:05:01 - 01:14:32 - On the Power of Imagination 01:14:33 - 01:16:54 - What will the Indian Scientist of the Future look like? 01:16:55 - 01:25:02 - The Current State of Indian Science 01:25:03 - 01:28:49 - On the Private Sector and the Government meeting Indian R&D halfway? 01:28:50 - 01:31:54 - On the Role of Mentors 01:31:55 - 01:32:51 - Thanks and Gratitude

Dr. Venkat Padmanabhan on a Culture of Making Things ‘Real’ as a Key to Progress

Dr. Venkat Padmanabhan is the Deputy Managing Director at Microsoft Research India, where he founded and led the Mobility, Networks, and Systems group. He previously worked at Microsoft Research Redmond for over eight years. Dr. Padmanabhan obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests are primarily in mobile and networked systems. He is an INAE Fellow, IEEE Fellow, and ACM Fellow, and has received numerous awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology. Timestamps: 00:00 - 00:15 - Theme Music 00:16 - 04:07 - Venkat’s Experience at IIT Delhi and UC Berkeley 04:08 - 05:55 - Venkat’s Reading Diet as a Youngster 05:56 - 09:08 - The Approach to Research at UC Berkeley 09:09 - 12:10 - Post-PhD Career Choices 12:11 - 16:02 - What is a ‘Good Problem?’ and the Origins of ‘HyWay.’ 16:03 - 21:34 - Focusing on ‘Principles of Design’ for Problem-Solving 21:35 - 27:47 - The Three Design Principles Guiding HyWay 27:48 - 31:49 - Modelling ‘Murmurations’ on HyWay 31:50 - 34:30 - How Venkat’s Day is Structured? 34:31 - 38:24 - Venkat’s Process to ‘Translate & Communicate’ Ideas 38:25 - 45:30 - The Networked Brain Project 45:31 - 51:48 - HAMS Project 51:49 - 54:14 - Venkat’s Definition of ‘Impact’ 54:15 - 01:00:23 - The Missing Translation Potential of Research in India 01:00:24 - 01:05:58 - Rapid Fire Round

Dr. Joy Buchanan on Understanding Economics through Experiments

Introduction: In this episode of The Inductive Economy, we welcome Dr. Joy Buchanan to discuss a variety of topics exploring the depths of economic theory and its application in today's world. From discussing Tyler Cowen's "GOAT" to diving into the experimentalist school of economics, and examining the influence of media on learning, this episode is packed with insightful discussions. We also explore how technology affects job training, particularly in countries like India, and delve into the role of intellectual property in wealth creation. Tune in for a comprehensive analysis and enjoy a rapid-fire segment to wrap up the discussion. Timestamps: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=0s] - 01:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=73s] - Introduction 01:14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=74s] - 05:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=359s] - Discussion on 'GOAT' by Tyler Cowen 06:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=360s] - 07:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=459s] - Joy's take on 'Who’s the GOAT?' 07:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=460s] - 11:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=702s] - Underrated GOAT candidates 11:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=703s] - 15:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=946s] - Experimentalist School of Economics 15:47 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=947s] - 34:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2051s] - Tech jobs and training in India 34:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2052s] - 38:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2315s] - Media's impact on learning 38:36 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2316s] - 41:36 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2496s] - Project-based vs. Prestige-based learning paths 41:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2497s] - 49:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2944s] - Leisure, abundance, and the Barbie Movie 49:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=2945s] - 54:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=3295s] - Economists influencing the Barbie movie 54:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=3296s] - 01:05:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=3912s] - Hayek’s theory on competition 01:05:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=3913s] - 01:16:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=4576s] - Intellectual property and wealth creation 01:16:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=4577s] - 01:17:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=4629s] - Insights on Elinor Ostrom 01:17:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=4630s] - 01:28:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jhn73x-tjE&t=5303s] - Rapid-fire questions and conclusion About Dr. Joy Buchanan: Joy is a renowned economist, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Samford University's Brock School of Business. Her research focuses on behavioral and experimental economics, exploring how individuals make decisions in various economic and social contexts. Dr. Buchanan is known for her work on the experimentalist school of economics, which examines economic phenomena through controlled experiments, providing valuable insights into human behavior and decision-making processes. #InductiveEconomy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/inductiveeconomy] #EconomicTheory [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/economictheory] #JoyBuchanan [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/joybuchanan] #ExperimentalEconomics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/experimentaleconomics] #TechTraining [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/techtraining] #IntellectualProperty [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/intellectualproperty] #EconomicsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/economicspodcast] #TylerCowen [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/tylercowen] #EducationalInsights [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/educationalinsights] #BehavioralEconomics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/behavioraleconomics]

Dr. Shubha Tole on Understanding the Brain's Inner Workings

Dive into the fascinating world of neuroscience in this compelling episode of The Inductive Economy, featuring renowned neuroscientist Dr. Shubha Tole. From her early interests to groundbreaking research, Dr. Tole shares her journey and insights into the brain's mysteries. Here's a brief outline of our conversation: * Journey into Neuroscience: Explore Dr. Shubha Tole's early life, her burgeoning interest in neuroscience, and her academic journey, including her transformative years at Caltech. This segment delves into the personal and professional experiences that shaped her career in neuroscience. * The Dynamics of Aspirations and Mentorship: A discussion on the impact of carrying parents' aspirations, the role of disagreements and collaborations in scientific progress, and the profound influence of role models and mentors in shaping a scientist's path. * Unraveling the Mysteries of the Brain: Dr. Tole shares insights into mammalian brain development, offering a primer on the subject and discussing the metaphors suitable for understanding the brain's complex nature. * Celebrating Science and Research Innovations: An overview of the culture that respects and celebrates science in India, the groundbreaking research work taking place at Dr. Tole's lab at TIFR, and the application of this research in gene repair techniques and real-world interventions. * Philosophical and Ethical Explorations: Engage with Dr. Tole's thoughts on human behavior, the comparison between human and computational intelligence, the reality of the mind, and the moral considerations of large language models (LLMs). The episode concludes with invaluable advice for young people and women entering the field of science. This episode with Dr. Shubha Tole offers a deep dive into the intricacies of neuroscience, the importance of mentorship, the celebration of scientific inquiry in India, and the ethical dimensions of scientific research. Join us for a journey through the wonders of the brain and the future of neuroscience in India. About Dr. Shubha Tole: Shubha is a distinguished neuroscientist, professor, and Dean of Graduate Studies at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, specializing in brain development. Her groundbreaking research has significantly contributed to understanding the development of the hippocampus and amygdala. She has been honored with prestigious awards, including the Infosys Prize in Life Sciences and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. Her work not only advances neuroscience but also offers insights into neurological disorders. Shubha is committed to science education and inspiring future generations in India and globally.