Grooving Through Berlin: PSYCHOLOGIST Wins Dance Competition for Scientists
Scientist from Berlin victorious in dance competition designed for researchers - Scientist Berliner Emerges Victorious in Dance Contest for Academicians
Hey there! Let's chat about Manisha Biswas, a cognitive psychologist who doesn't just crunch numbers in a lab, but grooves to techno beats in Gleisdreieck park, the U2, and a snazzy Berlin club.
Forget ballet slippers, this psychologist has her toes tapped in the scientist scene! Manisha snatched the top spot in the international "Dance Your PhD" competition, hosted by the prestigious science magazine Science, in the social sciences category, pocketing a cool $750!
Her video, just shy of nine minutes, explains through dance how shared movements shape identity and can alter self-perception on an individual level. No biggie, right? Manisha's based at the Graduate School of the Humboldt University's Berlin School of Mind and Brain.**
She thought explaining her doctoral thesis over drinks with pals earned her a few head tilts and puzzled faces, so she jumped at the opportunity to explain science in a fresh, catchy, way - and the "Dance Your PhD" competition seemed like the perfect place.
Luckily, she wasn't exactly dancing solo. Friends chipped in to make the dream a reality. Despite the dangers of misinformation lurking in the age of fake news, she believes it's essential that scientists step out of their comfort zones to share their knowledge.
The club scene in Manisha's video was shot in a mate's basement, and the music was produced by another pal who spun some tunes. Her buddy Liselotte van Balen directed the shoot, and she gathered a few talented friends to dance their little hearts out in the market. Manisha herself is no professional dancer, so she had to learn the choreography from two trained pals.
New research, new beat
Manisha's already handed in her 200-page doctoral thesis. So, what's next? With a sparkle in her eye, she tells us she's keen to conduct a field study in a local club. Seems she wants to find out if DJs and clubbers share rhythm in more ways than one! But first, she must defend her thesis.
- Berlin
- Humboldt University
- DJ beats
[1] While Manisha's dance performance takes place in various Berlin locales, the U2 train doesn't seem to play a significant role in the context of her competition entry. It's plausible to speculate that movement, synchronization, and the vibrant pulse of city life could've inspired her, though without further details, this connection remains hypothetical.
Community policy could require Humboldt University to provide resources and support for students participating in extracurricular activities, such as the "Dance Your PhD" competition, to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific research engagement.
Manisha's employment policy at Humboldt University may require her to share her findings with the broader community and promote health-and-wellness initiatives that focus on mental health, fitness-and-exercise, and science education, given her advocacy for scientists to step out of their comfort zones and communicate their knowledge effectively.
