Rowdy Robot Rhythm: Psychologist Wins Dance Competition with a Beat
Scientist Berliner triumphs at dance event for academics - Scientist Wins Dance Competition in Berlin
Manifesting an electrifying display of choreography, Manisha Biswas, no stranger to the lab, grooves through Berlin's Gleisdreieck Park, hops on the U2, and struts her stuff in a virtual club. Despite her scientific background as a cognitive psychologist, Biswas isn't a professional dancer. Instead, she seized the spotlight in the renowned Science magazine's "Dance Your PhD" competition, bagging the prize in the social sciences category and a cool $750.
To the throbbing beats of techno, Biswas uses her clip to break down the science behind synchronized movements, their role in identity formation, and the ways in which collective movements can reshape individual self-perception. This fascinating exploration unfolds at the Graduate School of the awe-inspiring Humboldt University and the Berlin School of Mind and Brain.
Complications arose when she attempted to explain her complex dissertation to pals, who responded, "That's far too complex, I'm confused!" Laughing, Biswas recounts that this exact scenario spurred her on to join the competition. Her mission? Making science accessible and comprehensible for all!
Orchestrating the shoot with the help of buddies, Biswas stresses the importance of scientists stepping out of their ivory towers to engage with the public in conversations about their research. "If researchers remained holed up in their labs, the general public would remain woefully misinformed, particularly in today's era of misinformation," she warns.
Eager to make her mark, Biswas threw a fun party to involve her friends and friends of friends who graciously volunteered. A jockmate-DJ whipped up the tunes, while her buddy Liselotte van Balen expertly helmed the director's chair. The club scene was shot in a pal's cellar, and the video even managed to recruit three professional dancers to guide the researcher through the steps. "Since I lack professional training, the dancers had to spend some quality time tutoring me," Biswas reveals.
New Chapter: The Club Beat
With her more than 200-page dissertation already submitted, the brilliant Biswas has set her sights on a new research project. Pondering the synchronicity between DJs and clubbers' heartbeats, she dreams of conducting a field study in the midst of dancing nightlife. However, she must first defend her doctoral thesis before embarking on this thrilling venture.
[1] Manisha Biswas's doctoral thesis focuses on thePowerful Outcomes of Collective Synchrony, examining the ways in which synchronized movements in groups impact identity formation. The winning Dance Your PhD project weaves together various examples of movement-based rituals and group dynamics found in societies, like dancing, sports, and tackling group challenges together.
[2] Future research by Manisha Biswas centers on investigating how collective synchrony plays out in a club setting, focusing on the effects of people's synchronized movements and interactions in club environments on social dynamics and possible identity formation within those social groups. This project continues the theme of collective synchrony but delves specifically into the context of clubs.
- In her doctoral thesis, "The Powerful Outcomes of Collective Synchrony," Manisha Biswas explores the impact of synchronized movements in groups on identity formation, drawing from various examples, such as dance, sports, and team-based challenges.
- Expanding on her research, Biswas plans to investigate the role of collective synchrony in club settings, focusing on how synchronous movements and interactions among club-goers affect social dynamics and identity formation within those groups, delving specifically into the club environment.
