Berlin-Based Scientist Wins "Dance Your PhD" Competition with Beat-Fueled Extravaganza
Science Authority Dance Contest Victory: Berliner Secures Top Spot in Dancing Expertise Event - Scientist Berliner bags the victory at the dance competition for intellectuals
💥
Manisha Biswas, a cognitive psychologist, took to the streets, trams, and underground clubs of Berlin to showcase her research on identity formation in a dance video that won her first prize in the social sciences category of the reputed "Dance Your PhD" competition by Science magazine. Winning the grand prize of $750, her performance illuminated the role of synchronous movements in shaping one's identity and self-perception.
Stationed to techno beats, Biswas danced her way through Gleisdreieck Park, rode the U2, and rocked in a Berlin club, demonstrating how shared movements contribute to identity construction and perception. Her home base, the Berlin School of Mind and Brain within Humboldt University, is where this fascinating investigation unfolds.
Biswas's initial motivation to explore the intricacies of the human identity emerged when she found that her friends struggled to understand her esoteric doctoral thesis. Recognizing the need for more accessible and palatable communication of scientific theories, she jumped at the chance to participate in the competition.
The production of this captivating dance video was no one-man show. Biswas collaborated with friends—an DJ for the beats, a director, and a handful of trained dancers. Even the club scene was shot in a friend's basement, emphasizing the importance of scientists communicating their work beyond academic ivory towers.
With her doctoral thesis already submitted, Biswas already has her eye on her next project: a field study in a Berlin club. The objective is to examine whether the heartbeats of DJs and partygoers sync during their musical journeys. After successfully defending her thesis, it seems Biswas could shake things up for the better in the club scene.
🌩️ Berlin 🌩️, 🚈 U2, 🎓 Humboldt University 🎓, 🥁 Beats 🥁
In the spirit of making scientific research more accessible, Manisha Biswas plans to conduct a field study at a Berlin club, investigating whether the heartbeats of DJs and partygoers sync during their musical journeys. This scientific exploration aims to further our understanding of human connections and identity formation in health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise environments, aligning with her initial motivation for her doctoral research.
By embracing a dance-based approach to communicate her findings, Biswas continues to push the boundaries of community policy and scientific communication, encouraging a broader engagement in her research within the science community and beyond.
