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Inaugural fellowship for journalists at IISER commences with session on art & science

Professor DasGupta also stressed that more scientists should practice science communication along with their science.

3 min readPuneDec 17, 2025 08:43 AM IST

The first cohort comprises over 40 grassroots journalists and storytellers selected from across India. Further sessions will be conducted by experts like Professor Madhav Gadgil, Dr Kavindra Khaiwal, Dr Shraddha Karve, and others. (File)

The inaugural VOICE Fellowship for journalists at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune kicked off with the session ‘Drawn to Discovery: Alternative Media Where Art Meets Science’ on Tuesday. The CARE Project at IISER Pune is hosting the five-day residential training programme on climate, environment, and public health communication from December 16 to 20.

The first day involved a science exhibition and the panel discussion involving Assistant Professor Saurja DasGupta from University of Notre Dame, Argha Manna, a scientist and Artist-in-Residence at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, and Shalini Sharma, Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IISER Pune, and journalist Nidhi Jamwal.

Explaining why science communication is important not just for the public but for scientists as well, Professor DasGupta said at the panel discussion, “The basic science that we do often is paid for by the taxpayer, right? And they’re so basic that often those things, those research ideas don’t lead to tangible products that the public can actually use. Obviously basic science has its value because you don’t know when it’s come to fruition and give us something incredible, but science communication is, I think, the best way to directly tell the taxpayer whether or not and here’s why the science that they’re funding is important.”

Professor Manna stressed the importance of not being held back by scientific terms while reporting on scientific issues. “If you are asking someone from Kolkata who is living in South City what is the effect of climate change, they will say ‘no, I don’t feel that I haven’t seen (it).’ But if you are asking someone from Rajasthan village, they do not know the term climate change, but they will just say, we do not have water. ‘Climate crisis’, that term, they don’t have. So we have to be inclusive first of all,” he said.

He added, “If something is happening in your village, report that. Like the ground water. Ground water is going down. You can report that. You really do not need some expert to tell ground water is going down.”

Professor DasGupta also stressed that more scientists should practice science communication along with their science. He said, “Science journalists will always exist. (But) Practicing scientists are in the trenches; they know the nuances and they know the boundaries of their research.”

On the fellowship, Professor Sunil S Bhagwat, Director, IISER Pune, said “As an institution committed to shaping thought leadership in science and society, IISER Pune sees the VOICE Fellowship as an important step toward strengthening informed public discourse on climate and health.” The first cohort comprises over 40 grassroots journalists and storytellers selected from across India. Further sessions will be conducted by experts like Professor Madhav Gadgil, Dr Kavindra Khaiwal, Dr Shraddha Karve, and others

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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