Cognitive Psychologist Wins Dance Battle for Science Buffs
Berlin-based dancer clinches victory in science dance competition - Scientist Berliner emerges victorious in dance competition for academics
Chill out as we follow Manisha Biswas, a cognitive psychologist, shimmying her way through Berlin's Gleisdreieck park, grooving on the U2, and strutting in a phantom club. But Biswas isn't just a dance machine - she's a scholar of the brain! This fantastic performance earned her the top spot in the social sciences category of the prestigious "Dance Your PhD" competition hosted by Science magazine. As her prize, she scooped up a cool $750.
With techno beats setting the scene, Biswas spins tales of how synchronous movements with others foster identity and how coordinated movements can alter one's self-perception. She's the smart cookie at the graduate school of the Humboldt University, housed at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain.
When she tried to explain her doctoral thesis to pals, they'd simply shrug and say, "Sounds complex; I've no clue what you're on about!" That's exactly the inspiration she needed to enter the competition - a mission to make science engaging and comprehensible for all.
She rope-dipped her way through organization, enlisting the aid of mates. If scientists remain cloistered in their labs without chatting about their research, misinformation might reign, especially in the era of fake news.
But the fun factor was a significant motive too. The competition brought together Biswas's circle of friends and friends-of-friends, all of whom generously volunteered their time. A chum who moonlights as a DJ whipped up the tunes, filmmaker friend Liselotte van Balen took directorial duties, and the club scene was shot in a pal's basement. Also, three professional dancers graciously lent Biswas their skills to help her nail the choreography. "My dance credentials are a bit sparse; the dancers had to coach me on the steps."
Biswas has submitted her 200-plus-page thesis, but her mind is already racing to the next adventure: "I'd fancy doing a field study in a club." She wants to uncover whether DJs and club-goers' heartbeats sync up, but first, she has to defend her Ph.D. thesis. Knowledge is a groove thing–let's keep dancing!
- Manisha Biswas, the cognitive psychologist who won the Dance Your PhD competition, is planning to apply her research on synchronous movements to clubs, exploring potential connections between DJs' and club-goers' heartbeats, especially as a form of health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise.
- In her quest to make science engaging and comprehensible, Manisha Biswas aims to incorporate elements of community policy and mental health in her future projects, ensuring the sharing of accurate information within her social circle and beyond, while promoting an understanding of the importance of mental health in scientific research and real-world applications.
