Talks

Which of the following problems is "harder" to solve? Adding two 5-digit numbers or multiplying them? In general, it seems that multiplying is harder, but is there a way to make this feeling formal?

The area of theoretical computer science tries to do just that for any given problem! In this talk, we will look at some examples of such problems and try to see how easy/hard it is to solve them.

Colour is a fundamental aspect of our world, shaping our perception, culture, and experiences. In this talk, we will explore the multifaceted science of colour, tracing its profound influence through history and delving into the fascinating interplay of physics, chemistry, and biology that brings colour to life. We will also discuss the mathematics of colour, which helps us to identify and represent colour effectively! Encompassing various aspects of how light and colour are interconnected, we will illustrate the principles of light dispersion, the visible spectrum, and the phenomena of reflection, refraction, and absorption that give rise to the colours we see. We will explore the chemistry and the molecular origin of colour in pigments and dyes, along with the biology of colour perception, and interpretation highlighting the evolutionary significance of colour. Join for a colourful journey through time and science with demonstrations that will make the science of colour come alive.

Nature has been a great inspiration for many scientific developments. Fractal Geometry is a case in point. Fractals are mathematical objects resembling the irregularities that are observed in nature. Fractal geometry aims to understand the regularities that are hidden behind such irregularities. In this talk, we will discuss the key mathematical concepts related to Fractal Geometry using illustrative examples. We will also give an overview of the development of this field and their applications.

According to the social brain hypothesis, primate brains evolved in size to adapt to the increasing demands of navigating a complex social network. Recent evidence has corroborated this by demonstrating how social interactions (or its lack of) can have measurable consequences on an organism’s biological fitness. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying our everyday decisions in a social context are not yet well-understood. In this talk, I will share some key findings from social neuroscience, highlighting some of our own work with non-human primates on valence based social decision-making. I will end with talking about another aspect of group behavior, a phenomenon known as ‘physiological synchrony’ and show, using our own data from a naturalistic group discussion task, how it could be a biomarker of effective group decision-making.

Dive into the fascinating world of probability, statistics and data mining as we embark on a journey to unravel complex real-world challenges. Through captivating examples, stories and anecdotes, discover how these statistical principles enable us to quantify the unknown, navigate uncertainty, and devise effective strategies for addressing a wide range of real-world problems. We also discuss about the journey of statistics through time.

Generative AI has become a popular sensation, showing remarkable abilities including with language, analogical reasoning and originality. But, as is well known, it is notoriously unreliable.

Less visible have been dramatic developments in Formal Proof Systems, where computers verify and help in finding proofs.

Formal proof systems perfectly complement generative AI for Mathematical reasoning, at least in principle. In this talk, I discuss these two developments and their relation.

Indian women work ten times more than their counterparts in other countries. Yet, as per official statistics, only 1 out every 4 working age women in India are employed. There have been several arguments made to answer this question. One strand of the literature points towards the conceptualisation of the notion of employment and its limitations in identifying and recognising the kinds of work that women do. Relatedly, some argue that ways of data collection inherently fails to capture women's employment - 'data is sexist!', as they say. A second strand argues that women's domestic work, care burden and gender-based norms keep women out of the paid workforce. Finally, a more recent strand points towards the lack of job creation as a fundamental reason for fewer women in the workforce. Based on primary surveys and official secondary data, the talk addresses each of these strands to unpack the low and falling levels of women's employment in India. I draw from my personal experiences as a...