Arnab Bhattacharya is an Indian physicist and science communicator. He is a research professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, where he works in semiconductor optoelectronics. Since 2021, he has also served as director of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. Bhattacharya is an avid proponent of public engagement and science education. Since 2009, he has led and curated Chai and Why, a widely attended science café in Mumbai. In 2017, the Indian National Science Academy honored him with the Indira Gandhi Prize for the Popularization of Science, one of India’s most prestigious science awards, for his contributions to public science communication.
In this wide-ranging and insightful InterDialogue, we explore interconnected questions surrounding science communication, education, and outreach in both Indian and global contexts. We also discuss Bhattacharya’s projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he helped create low-cost methods for decontaminating N95 masks for reuse by frontline responders. In addition, we talk about his research on nanomaterials and India’s potential for developing domestic industries centered on advanced technologies such as semiconductors, solar energy, and nuclear power. Beyond his scientific research and outreach work, we also touch on the importance of maintaining work-life balance, as well as Bhattacharya’s passion for Indian classical music, nature, and cooking.
Timestamps
1:02 – Bhattacharya’s introduction to science and science communication
10:59 – Interventions in science communication in India
16:16 – Hands-on alternatives to theoretical learning
21:34 – Bhattacharya’s involvement in pandemic response in India
27:36 – Public health communication during the pandemic
33:09 – Problems facing public health and science communication in India
41:01 – Bhattacharya’s directorship of the Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education
45:04 – Impact of AI on science education in India
50:43 – Bhattacharya’s research on lighting technology
55:54 – India’s potential for a domestic semiconductor industry
1:00:57 – India’s potential for a domestic solar cell industry
1:10:22 – Nuclear energy potential in India
1:15:42 – Bhattacharya’s other interests and concerns
