National Science Day: Science has to move out from ivory towers and into public spaces, TV debates, dinner table conversations, says Pune-based Dr Karishma Kaushik
In her book 'The Real Deal: Lessons, Learnings and Laughter for Girl Scientists', Dr Karishma Kaushik has addressed contemporary topics that shape scientific practice today for women and especially girls, and what it means to be a 'woman in science'.
Scientific temper is a way of life, a habit of questioning and observing that we choose to cultivate. “For young people, it starts with looking beyond screens and at the world around with curiosity and thought. How does flora change with the onset of spring? Do I see evidence of climate change around me? Why has India managed to make digital data usage so inexpensive?” according to Dr Karishma Kaushik, a Pune-based physician-scientist who has led and been involved in a range of initiatives across the scientific landscape in India.
On the occasion of National Science Day (February 28) that focuses on the theme ‘Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat’ and highlights women’s role in building a developed India, Dr Kaushik who ran her independent research group at Savitribai Phule Pune University from 2018-2023 and was the executive director of IndiaBioscience from 2023-2025, has shared her learnings in a new book, ‘The Real Deal: Lessons, Learnings and Laughter for Girl Scientists’.
In a conversation with The Indian Express, Kaushik said that in the book she has addressed contemporary topics that shape scientific practice today for women and especially girls, and what it means to be a ‘woman in science’. A few excerpts:
Q: What first sparked your interest in science, and how did that curiosity evolve into a career in STEM?
Dr Karishma Kaushik: My interest in science – and therefore a shift from training as a medical doctor to becoming a scientist – was during my MD at an army medical institution. All MD residents have to work on a research thesis, and I was handed a project to genotype circulating chicken pox strains in India. From collecting vesicle fluid from the blisters of patients with chicken pox to developing a buffer to store the fluid, the project was a quintessential bedside-to-bench research experience. At that time, serving soldiers in the Army were reporting outbreaks of chickenpox. The Army was rolling out the chickenpox vaccine among adults, using the licensed vaccine strain from Japan. Across two years, I led this study – the first large-scale study to genotype chicken pox strains in India – and my research determined that Indian strains of the virus belonged to one major genotype – a genotype that was different from the vaccine strain used. At the end of this experience, my research had led to new insights, been published in journals, and also won awards.
Q: How do you think we can better cultivate a scientific temper among young people today?
Dr Kaushik: By encouraging young people to be critical thinkers, but not necessarily cynical beings. Scientific temper is a way of life. It is a lens through which one sees the world. It is a practice of thought that one chooses to cultivate. Asking questions and thinking about things around us – and not taking them for face value – is being critical, not cynical. I have been running a science outreach programme ‘Talk To A Scientist’ with a colleague and friend, Dr Snehal Kadam, that aims to instill this very scientific thought and rationale in young minds.
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Q: In today’s rapidly changing world, what role should science play in public discourse?
Dr Kaushik: To put it plainly, science should be centre-stage. We recognise the value of our human potential – particularly STEM-trained youth – in achieving our potential as an education, innovation, and enterprise leader. Science has to move out from ivory towers and into public spaces, TV debates, and dinner table conversations.
Q: How has the landscape for women in STEM changed since you began your career? What structural challenges still persist?
Dr Kaushik: Age-related cutoffs, lack of gender equity in hiring, and the ‘position gap’ where women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) often ‘settle’ for less prestigious and lucrative roles persist. This is particularly so for women seeking ‘standard’ or ‘typical’ career paths, such as academic science or institutional or university jobs as faculty. This is in spite of girls and women in India entering STEM in increasing numbers. The scientific system in India – while gloating on the increasing numbers – has not made sufficient on-ground change to retain, absorb, and propel the aspirations of women in STEM. However, in urban India and even semi-urban landscapes, women in science are building interesting career paths for themselves, often not depending on the system to provide them with an opportunity. I can see more founders, leaders, and entrepreneurs, as well as women starting collectives and foundations. I think this comes from a recognition that a career in science is no longer about ‘a job’, instead it is about finding the intersection of priorities, interests, and skills. To me, this signals self-confidence, assuredness, and agency. More young women in science are chasing their Ikigai!
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .
Professional Background
Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.
Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.
Awards and Recognition
Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care
"Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose.
2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series)
Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs.
"For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune.
3. Lifestyle & Wellness News
"They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions.
At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents.
4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure
For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics.
Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far.
Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership
Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.
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