IIT Gandhinagar aims to instill ‘Curiosity’ in Indian Education, Research and Innovation

GANDHINAGAR : Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has been working to instill ‘Curiosity’ in the Indian education, research and innovation ecosystem. The Institute’s Curiosity Lab has joined hands with the U.S.-based Center for Curiosity to host a ‘Curiosity Conference’ on 12th and 13th August 2023 at IITGN.

The objective is to foster discussion on the vital role of curiosity in improving education, learning, research and workplace practices.

The two-day conference will bring together researchers, educators, teachers, and industry professionals from India and abroad to discuss the role of curiosity in research and practice and its importance in driving innovation and progress across various fields.

The interested candidates can attend the conference by registering on the event website: https://www.curiositylab.iitgn.ac.in/conference.

Highlighting the need for such conferences, Prof. Jaison Manjaly, Principal Investigator, Curiosity Lab, IIT Gandhinagar, said, “The Curiosity Lab at IIT Gandhinagar has committed its research endeavors to investigate the determinants of curiosity and explore how curiosity can enhance critical thinking and inquisitiveness.”

Prof. Jaison Manjaly added, “The purpose of this Curiosity Conference is rooted in the belief that curiosity plays a vital role in advancing individuals’ perspectives of the world. By gathering various stakeholders, including educators and industry representatives, the conference aims to integrate insights from diverse fields and supplement them with global research findings. It will serve as an exceptional platform for insightful discussions on curiosity.”

EXPO FOR PROFESSIONALS

The Institute is inviting practicing professionals to showcase their products and brands at the conference exhibition. This conference is a unique opportunity to display the product and services to researchers, educators, policymakers and like-minded practicing professionals. This conference is a hub of innovation, bringing together the brightest minds in research and industry to discuss the latest advancements and discoveries in education and curiosity.

Elaborating further, Mr. Kushal Sacheti, Founder and President, Center for Curiosity, said, “It is widely acknowledged that curiosity has long served as a powerful driving force behind personal success. However, our understanding of its true nature remains limited. This upcoming conference is poised to address this knowledge gap by inspiring scientists to delve into this emerging field of research.”

Mr. Kushal Sacheti added, “Moreover, we seek to enrich the participant’s endeavors by incorporating valuable insights and experiences shared by practitioners. By convening experts from diverse backgrounds, our collective aim is to cultivate a profound comprehension of curiosity and its profound impact on human cognition, behavior and overall well-being.”

Curiosity is frequently sparked by awe or ambiguity and can lead to the discovery of new ideas, knowledge, and new opportunities, which can improve creativity and problem-solving abilities. While incorporating curiosity as a tool in education enhances learning and retention of information to improve learning outcomes, fostering curiosity in the workplace has been linked to increased creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills, resulting in improved performance and productivity.

In a world where multidisciplinary education is becoming increasingly prevalent, integrating diverse inputs is necessary to achieve a comprehensive understanding of curiosity and innovation.

The event will feature hands-on workshops on improving curiosity in classrooms and workplaces; talks on the current research by national and international experts; and poster sessions and exhibitions by researchers and industry professionals to discuss the latest advancements and discoveries in the field of curiosity-based learning. The conference will provide ample opportunities to the attendees to learn, collaborate, exchanges ideas, and form partnerships. It will give insights on how to foster interest in learning novel information that can persist throughout an individual’s lifetime.

The sub-themes of the Curiosity Conference include:

Ø Inquiry-Based Learning

Ø Neuroscience of Curiosity

Ø Memory and Learning

Ø Uncertainty and Decision-Making

Ø Building Curiosity in Schools

Ø Science Communication for Building Curiosity

Ø Mindfulness and Curiosity Interpersonal Curiosity

Key speakers at the conference include Dr Kou Murayama, Professor, Hector Institute for Empirical Educational Research, University of Tubingen, Germany; Dr Michiko Sakaki, Professor, Hector Institute for Empirical Educational Research, University of Tubingen, Germany; Lynn Borton, Producer and Host, Choose to be Curious; Dr Perry Zurn, Provost Associate Professor, American University; Prof Argha Manna, Artist-in-Residence, IIT Gandhinagar; Dr Karishma Kaushik, Executive Director IndiaBiosciences, Kushal Sacheti, Founder & President, Centre for Curiosity; and Prof Jaison Manjaly, Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar.