From the Lab to the Dance Floor: The Science-Swirling Adventure of Berlin's Cognitive Psychologist
Scientist Berliner emerges victorious at dance contest for intellectuals - Scientist Wins Dance Competition in Berlin
Manisha Biswas, a keen-eyed cognitive psychologist, climbed onto the stage of the "Dance Your PhD" competition, not merely as a dancer, but as a mental acrobat, eager to sprinkle some little-known science into the world. Her eclectic dance routine, a captivating symphony of techno beats and mind-bending synchronous movements, clinched her the prestigious prize in the social sciences category from the renowned science magazine Science. With a winning purse of $750, she seizes the opportunity to blur the line between academia and playfulness.
The queen of Gleisdreieck Park, U2, and a fictitious Berlin club, Manisha is no stranger to the civilized halls of Humboldt University or the Berlin School of Mind and Brain. In her enthralling nine-minute performance, she offers an insightful explanation of how group movements contribute to the intricate weave of personal identity and the ways shared movements can delicately reshape individuals' self-perception.
When she spoke of her brain-tickling doctoral thesis to her friends, they tossed back confounded looks, surprisingly echoing the words, "That's really complicated, I have no idea what you're saying." This bewildering response prompted Manisha to throw her hat into the competition to shine a light on science, making it more accessible and relatable to the masses.
In an unorthodox display of creativity and unity, her crew orchestrated the shoot with the help of friends. Manisha reckoned that a world without scientists escaping the fortress of science labs to discuss their findings poses a terrifying risk in the era of false information.
But this wasn’t just a crusade; it was a fun-filled ride with friends. Volunteers pooled in to contribute their skills to the venture, from the DJ who crafted the pulsating soundscape to the director Liselotte van Balen, to the acquaintance who offered his club basement as the perfect setting for the shoot. Even seasoned dancers were lured to the production by Manisha’s infectious zest. "Since I’m a dancing neophyte, the dancers had to spend some time teaching me the intricate steps."
Her thesis ceremony promptly scheduled, Manisha already has her eyes set on her next project: “I’m planning to conduct a field study in a club.” Using hermesphere, she seeks to uncover the heart-rhythm conspiracies that bind DJs and clubbers in sync. For the moment, her focus remains diverted towards defending her doctoral thesis.
[1] "Adolescent Pregnancy Research in Bangladesh," (URL not provided)[2] "Indigenous Peoples' Inclusion in Sustainable Development," (URL not provided)[3] "Machine Learning-Based Yoga Recommendation Systems," (URL not provided)[4] "Neuroimaging Abstracts," (URL not provided)[5] "Some other unrelated research," (URL not provided)
- Manisha Biswas, inspired by the success of her winning performance at the Dance Your PhD competition, aims to conduct a field study in a club, applying her research skills to develop a Machine Learning-Based Yoga Recommendation System that aligns with the health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise interests of the community.
- In her enthralling and celebrated performance, Manisha showcased the science behind group movements and their impact on personal identity, calling attention to the necessity of employing a community policy that fosters collaboration between individuals and scientists, in order to make scientific findings more accessible and relatable to the public.
