Science Gallery Bengaluru Director Speaks at Summer Davos in China

Jahnavi Phalkey, the director of Science Gallery Bengaluru, recently addressed the World Economic Forum’s "Summer Davos" meeting in Dalian, China, where she discussed how to turn complex scientific experiments into accessible public experiences. The annual meeting, also known as the Annual Meeting for the New Champions, gathered over 1,500 global business leaders and innovators.

Phalkey spoke on a panel alongside the directors of the Science Gallery networks from Melbourne and Monterrey. During the discussion, she focused on how to bridge the gap between scientific research and public engagement, drawing on her experience leading the institution in Bengaluru.

To illustrate her points, Phalkey highlighted three specific experiments featured at the Bengaluru gallery. These included an experiment on carbon black, another on the origins of life called "Jivanu," and "Foresta Inclusive," which monitored a tree on the gallery's premises to track environmental data like particulate matter, carbon dioxide levels, and wind speed.

Phalkey also discussed the gallery's unique public lab complex in Bengaluru, which features five dedicated laboratories designed to turn public curiosity into action. She noted that the complex is a new concept unique to the Bengaluru gallery, aiming to encourage open-ended experiments in a country where strict exam-based systems can often limit who is allowed to pursue science.

To scale these efforts, Phalkey mentioned future plans to introduce "lab in a box" activities that allow people to conduct experiments at home. The event in China also featured an exhibition showcasing previous works from the galleries, including interactive art installations that merged artificial intelligence with art.

Reflecting on the event, Phalkey noted that participating in the forum was a significant learning opportunity that would enrich the gallery's upcoming exhibitions on "quantum" and "intelligence," which are scheduled to open this August and next year, respectively.