Red Rover

IISc’s UG students are designing a prototype that could help scientists explore Mars, as part of an international competition   In the Old Physics Building, tensions are running high. Tucked away in a corner of the first floor, the workspace is crammed with batteries, pipes and boxes. Amidst the disorganised and dusty shelves, a group […]

Dancing with Sticks and Swords

Kalari club nurtures the cultural practice on campus   It was the inaugural event of Rhapsody, an annual fest of IISc, in July 2023. The JN Tata auditorium was packed with an ecstatic audience looking forward to a cultural extravaganza. Draped in red-and-black costumes, resembling ancient warriors, the members of the IISc Kalaripayattu club marched […]

Staying in STEM

A training programme seeks to inculcate scientific curiosity in women students from far-flung areas   I was running late. I hurried to the seminar hall in the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics (DBG). The orientation session, which was scheduled for 10 am, had already started when I reached, so I sneaked in silently, hoping […]

Keeping a Clean Lab

Twenty years ago, T Chandrashekar joined PB Seshagiri’s lab at the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics or DBG (earlier called Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics) as a lab assistant. Since then, he has helped countless students with their research by prepping their worktables every day. Along the way, he worked at different labs in […]

Flashing Lights of Hope

Alumnus Sudhakar Varanasi recounts the history and impact of India’s 108 ambulance service   It was a day like any other in the year 2001 when Barbara and her daughter set out on a drive to the suburbs of Bangalore. Unfortunately, their car met with an accident, leaving Barbara bleeding profusely and severely injured. Her […]

Coming of Age

Tracing the growth of IISc’s UG programme through the eyes of a student   Hailing from a small village outside Guwahati in Assam, I had no idea about the existence of IISc, let alone its undergraduate (UG) programme. I only learned about it when I was well into my 12th grade after I cleared the […]

Helping Hands

The Pensioners’ Association supports retired employees in their golden years   As you take a leisurely stroll down Gulmohar Marg, your gaze might be drawn to a quaint two-storeyed complex adjacent to the walkway across the IISc main building, its vintage facade standing quietly amidst the hustle and bustle of the campus. The sign near […]

The Chase Begins

A first-person account of IISc’s women’s cricket tournament   It was a hot Sunday morning in May. Under clear skies that offered little protection against the beating sun, a group of women gathered around at the pavilion in the Gymkhana to discuss strategies. It was the second match of the women’s cricket tournament organised by […]