CDRI scientists use podcast to spread scientific wisdom
LUCKNOW : To propagate scientific understanding among the masses, two scientists of Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) Lucknow have taken to the internet and social media.
Dr R Ravishankar, head of molecular and structural biology division and his colleague Dr Sukant Khurana, scientist, not only upload podcast titled ‘Innovation’ on Youtube, they share it on twitter and discuss about it on facebook too.
The duo recognised as leading figures in their field of expertise, discuss a plethora of issues related to science and its implementation in the podcast.
“We do this as part of scientific outreach programme which aims at taking our expertise to a common person,” said Dr Ravishankar said. To begin, the scientists have posted a total of four short podcasts over Tuberculosis on their online channel.
Dr Ravishankar’s lab is working on TB and he has studied all aspects of the disease closely. Khurana who has an expertise in Artificial Intelligence has talked of use of the machine to diagnose TB in patients.
“Despite its prevalence, TB is not diagnosed early by medical experts. AI can aid doctors effec-
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We do this as part of scientific outreach programme which aims at taking our expertise to a common person.
DR RAVISHANKAR, head of Molecular and Structural Biology Division, CDRI
tively in this which we have highlighted in the podcast,” Khurana said.
They have also posted eight episodes on the entrepreneurship and importance of startups incubator. In coming days the duo is planning to upload more podcast on 40 diseases which causes maximum deaths in the country.
Episodes on existing government infrastructure to promote startups and basic sciences are also in pipeline.
“We want to capture the zeitgeist of this period in our podcast and provide a space for useful content online,” said Khurana.
Their podcast have started drawing attraction online. They have been heard by people in thousands and counting.
“We are also receiving communication from people who have heard our podcast and want to discuss some aspect of it,” Dr Ravishankar said.