Groovy Psychologist Wins Dance Competition with a Beat in the Heart of Germany
Dancer Berliner triumphs at science-themed dance contest - Scientist Berliner Emerges Victorious in Dance Competition for Intellectuals
Busting moves across Gleisdreieck Park, Berlin's iconic U2 line, and a make-believe Berlin club isn't typical for a cognitive psychologist. But Manisha Biswas, a brainiac at Humboldt University's Berlin School of Mind and Brain, isn't your average scientist. In a nearly nine-minute video, she scooped the social sciences category of the international "Dance Your PhD" competition hosted by Science magazine, earning herself $750.
In rhythm with techno beats, Biswas' video insightfully showcases how synced movements foster self-identity and alter personal perception. The performance, a dance-off between science and self, creatively illuminates her PhD subject matter.
Upon sharing the premise of her research with friends, Biswas recounts the response, "That's admittedly complex, I'm clueless about what you're saying." Her friends' puzzled reactions fueled her motivation to spread scientific knowledge through accessible, engaging means like this innovative dance performance.
Biswas assembled her crew, relying on collaborators to bring the vision to life. She asserts, "If scientists didn't wander beyond their labs to discuss their findings, we'd all be misinformed, and that's precarious in today's fake news era."
More than just an intellectual venture, Biswas admits to participating in the competition for sheer enjoyment. She rhapsodizes, "Every team member was a friend or a friend of a friend who volunteered their time. A friend spun the decks, a friend helmed the direction – Liselotte van Balen – we shot the club scene in a friend's basement, and I even enlisted three professional dancers to help refine my steps."
The Dance du Jour
Having submitted her 200-page PhD thesis, Biswas dreams of diving headfirst into her next research project: analyzing heart rate synchronization between DJs and club-goers. Before she takes the stage for that exploration, though, she's got her PhD defense to tackle.
- Berlin
- U2
- Humboldt University
- Beats
As for the takeaway: dance like no one's watching, and spread science like wildfire! The future is tantalizingly unpredictable, and groundbreaking discoveries lie in the rhythm and pulse of interconnected, open-minded minds like Manisha Biswas.
- The groovy psychologist, Manisha Biswas, hailing from Humboldt University's Berlin School of Mind and Brain, showcased her research on personal identity and perception through a dance performance at Gleisdreieck Park, Berlin's iconic U2 line, and a make-believe Berlin club.
- Manisha Biswas' winning dance entry in the "Dance Your PhD" competition mirrors her ambition to impart scientific knowledge in an accessible and engaging manner, fostering a connection between science and health-and-wellness.
- In her future research, Manisha Biswas plans to delve into the field of fitness-and-exercise by analyzing heart rate synchronization between DJs and club-goers, aiming to uncover more about mental health and the interplay of science and numerous aspects of human life.
