Desi Academia Podcast

Desi Academia Podcast

By Desi Academia PodcastScience
Download on the App Store

Desi Academia Podcast episodes

  • S3E4 - Reentry Fellowships, citation farms

    In this episode, we begin with a rant about the faculty hiring process and the futility of re-entry fellowships in India. We then move on to discussing citation farms and the gamification of h-indices.


    Citation and publication farms links:

    • https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/23/exclusive-mayo-florida-profs-among-authors-of-article-tied-to-indian-paper-mill/

    • https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/25/journal-pulls-papers-following-retraction-watch-investigation/

    • In a Tipster’s Note, a View of Science Publishing’s Achilles Heel https://undark.org/2023/06/21/in-a-tipsters-note-a-view-of-science-publishings-achilles-heel/

    • Exclusive: Mayo, Florida profs among authors of article tied to Indian paper mill: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/23/exclusive-mayo-florida-profs-among-authors-of-article-tied-to-indian-paper-mill/

    • Exclusive: Paper-mill articles buoyed Spanish dean’s research output: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/18/exclusive-paper-mill-articles-buoyed-spanish-deans-research-output/

      • Recommendations

      • Megh

        • Fighter

        • Origin

        • Kathal

        • Neri Oxman- allegations of plagiarism: https://www.businessinsider.com/neri-oxman-plagiarize-wikipedia-mit-dissertation-2024-1

        • Aditya

          • Lessons in Chemistry

          • Vatsal

            • Podcast- Novara media

              • 1 hr 13 min
            • S3E2 - Academia and Failure

              We discuss what failure means in the context of academic research: how we learn when our research goes in unexpected directions, publishing negative results, dealing with imposter syndrome and peer reviewers, and learning from our mistakes.


              • Recommendations

                • Tech Won't Save Us Podcast https://techwontsave.us/episode/189_elon_musk_unmasked_origins_of_an_oligarch_part_1

                • The Rest is History- Baghdad https://therestishistory.com/378-baghdad-the-golden-age/

                • Longitudinal evidence that infants develop their imitation abilities by being imitated https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982223011648

                • The conservative vision of liberal education in India https://caravanmagazine.in/education/ashoka-university-private-universities-caste-sabyasachi-das

                • Intermediate levels of scientific knowledge are associated with overconfidence and negative attitudes towards science https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01677-8

                • Data and Power: Deconstructing Surveillance, Tufts University https://ricknabb.medium.com/data-and-power-deconstructing-surveillance-week-1-cff5517c21e2

                • White Noise: White Noise is the definitive inside story of the alt-right

                • A Nobel prize for failure https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2012/oct/09/neuroscience

                • Dr. Kariko's interview https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/health/coronavirus-mrna-kariko.html

                  • 1 hr 51 min
                • S3E1-Chronicles of Academic Conferences (Part 2)

                  Megh and Aditya discuss Aditya's experiences travelling internationally for conferences as an Indian PhD student.


                  • Travel fund options for Indian academics:

                    • https://www.serc-dst.org/application_for_travel_support.html

                    • https://dbtctep.gov.in

                    • https://www.ictp.it/

                      • 1 hr 19 min
                    • S2E4 - Chronicles of academic conferences!
                      In this episode of DAP, we delve into the world of Academic Conferences. Why do we attend them, and what are the differences between International and Local conferences? We also examine the influence of the pandemic on academic travel, including the challenges faced by graduate students such as seeking funding, accommodation, and networking, all while experiencing the excitement of discovering new places.
                      As G20 was the flavor of the season, and well, it's a conference of sorts, we briefly go on a tangent to discuss that event as well!
                      1 hr 5 min
                    • S2E3 - Exploring Science and Hype: Chandrayaan, ISRO, and Beyond
                      In this episode of DAP, the gang gets together to talk about the recent achievements of India's renowned space agency, ISRO, and its groundbreaking Chandrayaan mission. We discuss
                      why these achievements are often regarded as commendable amidst the flurry of headlines and what this hype truly signifies. Is it a genuine love for science, or does it sometimes border on jingoism? Are we witnessing a resurgence of the glory days of research, or is there more to the story?
                       
                      We also talk about the less glamorous aspects of science and the unique challenges it faces in a headline-dominated, macho space. What is the deal with applied scientists, including engineers and doctors, and their relationship with religion and pseudoscience? Can these professionals afford to be irrational in their personal beliefs while remaining proficient in their work? We also examine the broader implications of ISRO's success on the systemic issues within Indian academia and research. Will it serve as a convenient distraction from these issues, with the constant clutch of "see how ISRO is achieving great things"? What does this mean for research that doesn't bring international glory or isn't part of a prestigious race?
                      Join us as we navigate through the intersection of science, hype, and the complex world of research in India.
                      1 hr 12 min
                    • S2E2 - Going home!
                      In this episode, Megh talks about her trip back home after a long hiatus, about unavoidable bureaucratic work, dramatic climate events, local tourism and food. We also discuss how a break from academia dramatically improves our mental health, even if the physical and environmental conditions around us are catastrophic. This episode includes a serious segue into digital libraries and what it means for academia if our life’s work is housed in servers that could be sold to Elon Musk someday.
                      1 hr 7 min
                    • S2E1 - Nuance in scientific discussions, Domain Expertise, Remodeled Science Curriculum

                      In this episode, we discuss how to tackle the challenge of lack of nuance in popular science debates. We move on to discussing how there is a culture of ignoring domain expertise in India at the cost of cocksure narratives. In the latter half of the podcast we talk of how the omission of topics like global warming, the theory of evolution, and the periodic table from lower class curriculum could result in a lack of understanding of the first principle of science.

                      1 hr 30 min
                    • S1E4- Academia and Mental Health

                      We begin with a short discussion on what it's like to manage mental health in academia for three very privileged upwardly mobile youths with enough generational wealth to emigrate to first world countries.


                      We then continue our discussion on mental health and material conditions with a look at the housing market, entitled senior faculty, academic diversity and freedom, and making friends.


                      Credits:

                      Intro/Outro Music - "Sapajou - The Universe Needs You" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 3.0) license Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: ⁠https://bit.ly/bkc-universe⁠

                      1 hr 2 min
                    • S1E3- Academic publishing, Science Communication and the Business of Science

                      We continue our discussion of life as academic researchers which a 'light' discussion on what makes research scientific, the issues with the journalistic reporting of scientific discoveries, and our eternal battle with Culture Wars.


                      Credits:

                      Intro/Outro Music - "Sapajou - The Universe Needs You" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 3.0) license Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://bit.ly/bkc-universe


                      1 hr 5 min
                    • S1E2- Academic hierarchies, Productivity and Progress

                      We discuss our experience with the overt and covert power structures in Indian academia, gatekeeping, and what it means to be progressive and pathbreaking in a world where "Uncledom" reigns supreme. 


                      Credits:

                      Intro/Outro Music - "Sapajou - The Universe Needs You" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 3.0) license Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://bit.ly/bkc-universe

                      1 hr 16 min

                    About Desi Academia Podcast

                    From the publisher's feed

                    A space for discussing the trials and tribulations that make research and academic life interesting. This podcast offers the perspective of early-career Desi researchers navigating their futures both…