Groovin' Psychologist Wins Science Dance-Off in Berlin
Berliner Triumphs in Dance-Oriented Science Contest - Scientist Wins Dance Competition in Berlin
In a captivating nearly-9-minute video, Manisha Biswas saunters through Gleisdreieck Park, rides the U2, and struts in a make-believe Berlin nightclub. But Biswas isn't a dancer—she's a cognitive psychologist. This clip saw her claim victory in the prestigious "Dance Your PhD" competition, hosted by Science magazine, in the social sciences category. Her prize? A cool $750.
The video, pulsating with techno rhythms, finds the scientist expressing how synchronous movements with others shape identity and how these shared steps can alter individual self-perceptions. Biswas hails from the Berlin School of Mind and Brain, nestled within Humboldt University.
When pitching her PhD subject to pals, she heard, "That's way too convoluted; I've no clue what you're talking about," she giggles. This remark propelled her to enter the competition—determined to make science palatable and profound for everyone.
Coordinating the shoot with the help of friends, she aims to kickstart knowledgeable conversations among the scientific community. In an era awash with false news, she dares to bring forth the light of truth.
Yet, fun was on the agenda too. Everyone involved, friends or friends of friends, lent a helping hand voluntarily. A chum who's a DJ conjured the music, Liselotte van Balen helmed direction, and the club scene was shot in a pal's basement. Biswas even convinced three professional dancers to join the party. "Being devoid of formal training, the dancers had to patiently tutor me the choreography steps," she admits.
Next stop: the club
With her 200+ page doctoral thesis already submitted, Biswas maps out her upcoming moves. "I'd love to conduct a field study in a nightclub," she says, harboring ambitions to investigate whether DJs' and clubbers' heartbeats synchronize. But first, she stands her ground for her PhD defense.
- Berlin
- U2
- Humboldt University
- Rhythms
- The winning cognitive psychologist, Manisha Biswas, hails from the Berlin School of Mind and Brain, located within the prestigious Humboldt University in Berlin, where she conducted her research.
- As the clock strikes the closing hours of her doctoral program, Biswas contemplates her next venture, which involves investigating the synchronization of heartbeats between DJs and clubbers using rhythms reminiscent of the U2 train she frequently rode during her studies.
- Despite her academic accomplishments, Biswas continues to leverage various platforms, such as social media, fitness-and-exercise programs, and entertainment mediums like dance, to make complex scientific concepts more accessible and engaging to the general public.
