Desi Academia Podcast

We are joined by friend of the pod, Hassaan Saleem as we talk about the anti-SciComm grift economy in the physics and mathematics space, why billionaires need everyone to know that they are mathematics/ physics geniuses, Cosmism and the falsifiability of science. We ask Hassaan why he keeps fighting with people on Twitter, and discuss ways to escape belief systems.

Recommendations:
The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power by Max Chafkin

The works of Andre Grekoff 

The Peter Theil episode from Tech Won’t Save Us

The work of Sonia Contera

Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

Youtube video: “conspiracy physics and you (and also me), Angela Collier, “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miJbW3i9qQc

The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail – But Some Don't,  Nate Silver 

“The Penicillin Myth” https://press.asimov.com/articles/penicillin-myth

Steven Pinker : when everyone knows

Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum

Aman Bhargava is a UI/UX designer by training, who found his calling in data visualisation. He works for Revisual Labs,  an information design agency based in India that specialises in data storytelling and design. In today’s episode we talk about his journey from an R stats and plotting class at Shrishti School of Design to building a career creating high-impact data graphs for clients like Reuters and UNHCR, the intersection between data analysis and policy, and what motivates him to seek new projects on the internet. We also discuss the impact AI has had on reducing the entry costs into this field, hallucinations, and what the future holds. Aman also walks us through his recent passion project, “Analyzing Film Censorship in India: CBFC Watch”, and how he was able to go from publicly available information to a searchable, robust and user-friendly dashboard.
Recommendations:
Megh

A Complete Unknown

FOOD, CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN INDIA: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Perspectives, Edited by Rituparna Patgiri and Gurpinder Singh Lalli

Freakerier Friday

Nehru’s India 

Sounds like a Cult podcast

Vatsal

All Her Fault - show

Aman

Visionscarto - Blog about map visualization.

https://pudding.cool/

https://orangedatamining.com/

Aman’s newsletter, Diagram Chasing, https://diagramchasing.fun/

The Powerbroker

Fall of Civilizations- book/podcast

In this new episode of DAP, Megh and Vatsal are joined by Dr. Robin Sharma. A friend of the pod, Dr. Sharma is a creator of science-based Digital Learning Environments (DLEs). He studies the effects of such DLEs on academic achievement, attitudes, and acceptance. He has more than seven years of professional experience in Ed.Tech. at international non-profits, the video game industry, and of course, academia.
He talks to us about his academic journey that started from a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics to learning science. We also get a quick primer on learning science, DLEs, and what it takes to develop games to aid learning. Join us for an enriching conversation!

Recommendations:
​Megh
◦Book: Rebel with a Cause: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rebel-with-a-clause-ellen-jovin?variant=43095339040802
◦Movie: Minsara Kanavu “spring mudi”
◦26th Jan parade
◦Boardgames - Through the Ages, John Company, T’zolkin The Mayan Calendar, Indonesia, SplendorRe-recommendation: Pluribus
​Vatsal
◦Movie: Bugonia
​Robin
◦Website: https://chaturbhuj.notion.site/Robin-Sharma-1130d1f78dfe806bb041dd8c97c84bf3
◦The Mathematical Universe - Max Tegmark
◦Explaining Life through Evolution - Prosanta Chakrabarty
◦Game: Assassin Creed* Robin's DLEs can be found here: https://chaturbhuj.notion.site/Learning-Environments-1ef0d1f78dfe80dabfd2d90ff6d822cc

We are joined once again by Ajay and Harsha, as we discuss the major tech breakthroughs of 2025 and the major theme of this progress: AI.
Recommendations and References:
⁠It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbot

The MIT List
Anthropic Coverage:

Trump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI use

Trump Orders Government to Stop Using Anthropic After Pentagon Standoff

Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards

Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

OpenAI Coverage: 

OpenAI: "Our agreement with the Department of War"

OpenAI’s Sam Altman announces Pentagon deal with ‘technical safeguards’

Previous Episodes with Harsha and Ajay:
S11E1: Pivoting from a PhD- navigating an alternative career path with Harsha
Supplementary Materials 4: Tech Wrap 2024 with Ajay and Harsha
S4E1- Conversation around Drug discovery Ft. Harsha

In this episode of DAP, we are joined by Dhruti, a long-time listener and a friend of the pod. She takes us through her academic journey, studying botany and zoology as part of her undergrad program in Bangalore to researching microbial populations of the soils in Australia for her PhD studies.
We talk about her love of birds and spiders and how that contributed to her scientific journey, documenting 'soppus' in local communities, her dissertation work about understanding microbial ecology of soil in Australia, and much more! Join in!!!
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Megh

Like: A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word – An Informative and Engaging Look at Language, Women, and Society, Megan C. Reynolds

Should Scientists and Engineers Run Society? Dr Fatima

Shows: Narcos, The Pitt

Vatsal

Tapeworm Spreads Deadly Cancer to Human | Scientific American

‘All authors agree’ to retraction of Nature article linking microbial DNA to cancer

Dhruti

Merlin Sheldrake’s works (https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/)

Jake Robinson (https://www.jakemrobinson.com/books)
Amitav Ghosh: Ghost Eye