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 Curiosity Conference 

Jan 18-19, 2025 | IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat

An interdisciplinary event exploring the power of curiosity in learning, innovation, and social change. Join educators, researchers, and policymakers for dynamic dialogues, hands-on workshops, and thought-provoking sessions. Showcase your ideas through poster presentations and explore amazing exhibits, all while connecting with like-minded individuals driven by curiosity.

IIT Gandhinagar's Curiosity Lab is committed to promoting and advancing research and practice in the field of curiosity and its related areas. We are excited to offer a platform for researchers, educators, policymakers, and practitioners from various fields to present their work through posters at the upcoming Curiosity Conclave.

Recognizing that curiosity-building goes beyond academic boundaries, we warmly invite individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to contribute to this dialogue. We have made special provisions to ensure participation from non-academic sectors, fostering an inclusive environment where various perspectives can thrive.

 

We believe that the inclusion of such diverse experiences will enhance our collective understanding and inspire innovative approaches to cultivating curiosity in society.

Important dates

Abstract submission dates: 2 January 2025

Selected Abstracts notified by:  5 January, 2025

Submission of full posters by: 15 January, 2025

Registration Fees

School Students: 1000 INR

College Students / Education Professionals: 2000 INR
School Teacher / Principal / Director: 2000 INR
Faculty and Academic Professionals: 3000 INR
Industry / Business Professionals: 5000 INR

Accommodation 

A limited number of IIT Gandhinagar Guest House and Hostel accommodations are available and can be reserved by the participants.

 

  • Guest House (twin sharing) charges per room: Rs. 2000+12% GST

  • Hostel Charges (shared accommodation) per person: Rs. 430 +12% GST

 

For inquiries, please contact us at curiositylab@iitgn.ac.in

Themes●●● 

Curiosity & Education

 

Curiosity is a powerful catalyst for learning and retention, making it an essential component of effective education. Recent policy reforms underscore the importance of curiosity in enhancing learning outcomes, demonstrating that fostering a culture of curiosity within schools is vital for encouraging exploration, experimentation, and lifelong learning. By prioritizing curiosity-driven exploration, educators can create engaging and dynamic classrooms that facilitate inquiry-based learning. This transformative approach not only captivates students but also equips them with critical thinking skills and a passion for discovery.

We invite abstracts that place curiosity at the heart of educational frameworks aimed at driving innovation and meaningful change. We encourage submissions that explore practical strategies, theoretical insights, and case studies demonstrating how a curiosity-driven approach can reshape educational practices and outcomes.

Curiosity Research

 

We invite abstracts that examine the dynamic interplay between curiosity and cognitive and emotional processes such as learning, memory, and decision-making, exploring how curiosity influences these processes and how they, in turn, shape curiosity.

We are particularly interested in how curiosity acts as a catalyst for innovation, driving breakthrough discoveries in both research and industry. Additionally, we welcome insights on how curiosity fosters creative approaches to solving real-world challenges. We encourage contributors to submit research that delves into the impact of curiosity on advancing knowledge and progress, showcasing its ability to drive meaningful change and innovation across different fields and disciplines.

Curiosity & Social-Behaviour Change

 

Curiosity serves as a powerful catalyst for social and behavioral change, driving individuals to question conventional norms, foster empathy, and promote inclusion. By encouraging people to challenge the status quo, curiosity inspires innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges. India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlights curiosity's importance by advocating for "lifelong learning and social change," underscoring its potential for meaningful social impact.

We invite poster presentations that explore the intersections of curiosity with social and behavioral change, policy research, media, and mental health. We seek insights into how curiosity shapes social behaviour, enhances problem-solving, and drives real-world behavioural change.

Curiosity & Art

 

In every work of art, be it a painting, or a piece of music, or a film, we are interested in the process by which the artist explores an idea or a theme and begins work on the artwork, and eventually completes it. While this process does not necessarily follow a specific plan, we are nevertheless interested in the precise instances where ideas get added, and imagination makes unexpected leaps, as the artwork evolves while it gets made.

We are interested in the themes that artists keep repeating in their work, for each artist has a passion for certain themes. What makes an artist pursue a theme through their works? Are they seeking answers to questions that obsess them? Or are they trying to reach out into the unknown looking not for answers but more questions? Are their artworks their findings? Or, are they explorations?

We are inviting abstracts that should visually evoke in the viewer the significance of 'curiosity', and its central role, in producing artworks.

Curiosity & Cognition

We invite researchers and practitioners to submit abstracts for the theme of Curiosity and Cognition, that would explicitly deal with the cognitive underpinnings of Curiosity. The topics should explore the intricate relationship between curiosity and cognition, that delve into psychological, neurological, and social dimensions of curiosity, shedding light on questions such as:

  • How does curiosity shape cognitive processes like memory, attention, and perception?

  • What are the neural mechanisms driving curiosity?

  • How can curiosity be cultivated to enhance learning and innovation?

Submissions may include theoretical frameworks, experimental studies, applied research, or interdisciplinary approaches. Selected abstracts will have the opportunity for poster presentations during the conference.

Click below to read the guidelines and submit your entry for the Conference

This Conference is an excellent opportunity to showcase your ideas, concepts, artistic expressions, thought experiments, alternative possibilities, prototypes, or research in a poster format and engage with a vibrant community of educators, teachers, researchers, artists, and practitioners. You are welcome to write an abstract to showcase any of the above themes. 

Submission

Speakers ●●● 

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Frederick Lawrence Coolidge
(Professor, University of Colorado)

Frederick Lawrence Coolidge has research portfolio that spans the fascinating realms of Behavior Genetics, Cognitive Archaeology, and Personality Assessment. Holding a B.A., M.A., and PhD., from the University of Florida, his academic journey, has led him to explore the genetic and cognitive roots of human behavior. Frederick’s interdisciplinary approach sheds light on the ancient origins of human psychology, offering unique insights into how the mind has evolved over millennia and how it operates today. 

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Nuno Guimaraes
(Professor, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon)

Nuno Guimaraes brings his deep expertise in Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, and the pressing Digital Society Challenges of our time. With a background in Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering, Nuno's work sits at the crossroads of technology and society, exploring how Law and Technology intersect in the digital age. A blend of academic rigor and practical insight, Nuno's career is driven by a passion for shaping a future where technology serves society responsibly and effectively. His interdisciplinary approach pushes the boundaries of how we think about the role of technology in our everyday lives.

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Andrea Kantrowitz

(Associate Professor and Director, Art Education Program, State University of New York)

Andrea Kantrowitz is an artist, educator, and researcher who applies theories and methods from cognitive psychology to explore the underlying dynamics of artists' thought processes.  She has given lectures and facilitated workshops on the relationship between art and cognition internationally. Her recent work, Unbound, showcases original drawings from the book, Drawing Thought: How drawing helps us observe, discover, and invent, released by MIT Press in 2022. The book features a wide array of drawings, spanning observations, imaginative creations, and everything in between. 

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Anupma Harshal
(Consultant, Foldscoper, Researcher)

An independent Woman in STEM, with over 22 years of experience as an Academician, Research administration. Of which last 7 years have been in Science Outreach, Advocacy, Communication and Public engagement. She has been a capacity building trainer, an avid Foldscoper, a high-achieving teacher, mentor who has steered Under Graduate Research, with 28 research projects to her credit. Recipient of Indo US Foldscope Grant, Superheroes Against Superbugs Fellowship, K Muralidhar Stem Peers Travel Grant. She has been a part of several GoI projects that include the Human Manav Atlas Initiative, WeGyan at Pune Knowledge Cluster, as a Consultant at Kotak Education Foundation.

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Sukanya Sinha
(Visiting Scientist, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore)

Sukanya Sinha is a theoretical physicist with a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, specializing in the intersection of General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. Passionate about science communication, she engages with audiences in both English and Bengali, making complex scientific concepts accessible to adults and children alike. Recognized for her contributions, she received the Rabindra Smriti Puraskar in 2010 for science writing in Bengali. Sukanya is also the founding director of Curiouslycity Science Education, an organization dedicated to sparking children's interest in science. Currently, she is a visiting scientist at the Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore.

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Biman Nath
(Professor, Raman Research Institute)

Biman B. Nath is a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the esteemed Raman Research Institute. His research delves into the vast, invisible realms of diffuse gas that fill the cosmos, particularly focusing on the intracluster and intergalactic medium and their fascinating interactions with galaxies. With a passion for uncovering the secrets of galaxy evolution and the pivotal role of cosmic rays, Biman seeks to unravel the complex forces shaping the universe. 

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Rohini Devasher
(Artist)

Rohini Devasher is an Indian artist whose work intersects art and science, focusing on astronomy and atmospheric phenomena. Utilizing media such as video, prints, and site-specific drawings, she explores the Earth's skies, blending early scientific instruments with contemporary observational practices. Her work has been showcased internationally, including at the Sharjah Biennial and Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona.

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Aditi Kothiyal
(Assistant Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar)

Aditi Kothiyal is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences, dedicated to revolutionizing education through innovative and hands-on approaches. Her expertise lies in making in education, embodied learning, and fostering creativity through experiential methods. With a strong focus on engineering education and STEM, Aditi is passionate about creating engaging, interactive, and transformative learning experiences that empower students to connect theory with practice.

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Manish Jain
(Founder, Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar)

Manish Jain is an Associate Teaching Professor at IIT Gandhinagar and the head of the Centre for Creative Learning (CCL). He is passionate about exploring the science behind simple and complex toys, dedicating much of his time to uncovering the mechanisms that make them work. He is passionate about sharing his insights with people of all ages. Through CCL, Manish aims to reignite the spark of curiosity and excitement in students and children, bringing creativity and joy back into education. His research interests span across STEM education, 3D geometry, machines and mechanisms, and recreational mathematics, all of which contribute to his mission of making learning an engaging and playful experience.

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Neeldhara Misra
(Smt. Amba and Sri. V S Sastry Chair Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, at IIT Gandhinagar)

Neeldhara Misra is the Smt. Amba and Sri. V S Sastry Chair Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, at IIT Gandhinagar Her research spans diverse and intellectually rich areas, including the design and analysis of algorithms, computational social choice, extremal combinatorics, and combinatorial game theory. She also works on combinatorial and computational geometry, satisfiability, and constraint satisfaction. Through her work, Neeldhara aims to deepen the understanding of complex computational problems while exploring innovative solutions to advance the field of computer science.

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Shanti Pappu
(Founder, Sharma Centre for Heritage Education (SCHE), India)

Professor Shanti Pappu is the Founder of the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education (SCHE), India, and a former Professor of Prehistory at the Deccan College, Pune, India. She founded the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education in 1999, and along with Dr Kumar Akhilesh, she has been conducting research programmes, training courses and public outreach programmes for children and teachers in archaeology and associated sciences. She is also interested in the history of prehistoric research in India, and is currently investigating the life and work of 19th century prehistorians in India.

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Anita Karwal
(IAS - Retd.,
Chairperson, Gujarat RERA)

Anita Karwal, is an Indian Administrative Service officer from the batch of 1988, retired in November 2022, as Secretary, Department of School Education, in the Ministry of Education of Government of India. She was deeply and closely involved with the preparation and implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational stage, 2022. She has spent several years leading, administering and reforming the school education sector of India and has acquired rich experience at the grassroots, state and national levels. Anita has also authored several books including, "The Power of Curiosity : In and Beyond Classrooms" published in 2023, which is a compelling exploration of the transformative impact curiosity can have on education and personal growth. She is currently serving as a Chairperson of Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

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Manjul Bhargava
(Professor, Princeton University)

Prof. Manjul Bhargava is a Canadian-American mathematician of Indian origin, renowned for his groundbreaking work in number theory. He holds the R. Brandon Fradd Professorship of Mathematics at Princeton University and serves as the Stieltjes Professor of Number Theory at Leiden University. His innovative techniques in algebraic number theory have transformed the understanding of arithmetic objects, with contributions spanning quadratic forms, p-adic analysis, and ideal class groups. Prof. Bhargava's numerous accolades include the Clay Research Award (2005), the Fields Medal (2014), and India's Padma Bhushan (2015), highlighting his profound impact on mathematics.

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Gautam Basu
(Scientist - Retd. , Bose Institute 
Visiting Professor at Ashoka University)

Gautam Basu is a Biophysicist and a former Professor and Chairman of the Biophysics Department at Bose Institute, Kolkata, where he served as the Dean (Students’ Affairs) and the Professor-in-charge of the J C Bose Museum. He was educated at Presidency College (Kolkata), IIT Kanpur and Cornell University (USA) and spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at Kyoto University before joining Bose Institute. His core research interest is in Computational and Structural Biology. Beyond scientific research, he is actively involved in science communication and has interest in History of Science. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor at IISER Kolkata and University of Calcutta, and a Visiting Professor at NIPER Kolkata.

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Argha Manna
(Comics artist, Science Historian, and Artist-in-Residence and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar)

Argha Manna is a cancer researcher turned comics artist from India. He explores the historical perspectives of scientific development and social issues through the lenses of an artist and a researcher both, which bridges the gap between academic research and visual storytelling. The advent of the ongoing pandemic made him interested in the history of infectious disease research. Since the last year, he has been experimenting with Prof. Lydia Bourouiba, MIT to translate the complex science of fluid dynamics of disease transmission into comics, and developing teaching tools to bridge the knowledge gap in public domain about infectious disease transmission. Their collaborative effort has already  been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and has got featured in the Graphic Medicine-The Best of 2020 list (JAMA).

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Jaison Manjaly
(Jasubhai Memorial Chair Professor, IIT Gandhinagar)

Jaison Manjaly is the Jasubhai Memorial Chair Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at IIT Gandhinagar. As the Principal Investigator of the Curiosity Lab, he leads initiatives aimed at cultivating curiosity in the classroom, believing that fostering a sense of wonder is key to transformative learning. His research spans the interconnected realms of curiosity, education, and exclusion, exploring how curiosity can drive both personal and societal progress. Jaison’s work is grounded in the belief that education should ignite a sense of inquiry, challenging existing boundaries and encouraging students to engage deeply with the world around them.

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 About Us●●●

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The Curiosity Lab at IIT Gandhinagar is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to understanding and nurturing curiosity. Our research delves into the factors that generate, sustain, and cultivate curiosity. Beyond theoretical exploration, we strive to bridge the gap between curiosity research and education. We promote innate curiosity and inquiry-based learning in children by implementing educational interventions. We translate our research for children, educators, and researchers through public engagement and community outreach initiatives.

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IIT Gandhinagar was founded in 2008 on the banks of Sabarmati River in Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The institute promotes critical thinking and an appreciation of the interdisciplinary character of knowledge, emphasising liberal arts, project-oriented learning, design, life sciences, diversity, and globalisation. It is committed to promoting excellence in science, technology, the humanities and social sciences and developing rounded and nuanced minds. IIT Gandhinagar is ranked 18th by NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) 2023 for Engineering.

 In Collaboration With ●●● 

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ART at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) is an initiative that promotes and facilitates artistic expressions and engagements on campus. Art as a medium and practice nurtures liberal, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and futuristic values. With Art@IITGN, we envision an environment that will allow ingenuity to thrive while bridging the transference of intergenerational knowledge systems. This initiative provides spaces on campus for students and community members to experiment with art.

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The Social Action and Policy Lab (SAP Lab) at IIT Gandhinagar is a leading research hub that utilizes behavioral insights (BI) to integrate social and behavioral sciences into social sector programs and state and national-level initiatives. By focusing on social and behavior change and BI systems and capacities, SAP Lab is instrumental in enhancing community engagement and strategic communication within priority areas of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through rigorous evidence-based research, the lab strives to improve the design, implementation, and overall effectiveness of public policy. 

The Center for Curiosity (CfC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the science of curiosity, promoting its practice, and academic and public advancement. The CfC designs and produces curricular materials that enhance students' curiosity and promote their integration into schools and colleges. The centre's research initiatives incorporate innovative techniques and methodologies to comprehend the science and characteristics of curiosity, identify ways to stimulate it, and examine the association between curiosity and other human endeavours, such as creativity, innovation, and leadership. 

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Coordinator

Co-coordinator

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Team

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Manasvi CM

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Himangshu Kothari

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Hyma Balakrishnan

Anisha

Anisha Mohanty

Tony

Tony Xavier

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