ThinkHer

We have written a few articles already about the personal beliefs and political convictions of scientists—how these elements shaped not only their worldviews but also their contributions within and beyond their disciplines. Yet, for those of us within the scientific community, it is evident that much of the work, particularly in the physical sciences, is rarely undertaken with the explicit aim of societal benefit. Rather, it is often driven by something more elusive: the raw human desire to understand the world.   I am not trying to claim objectivity or detachment of science from the world’s politics, but to recognize that more often than not, the primary aspiration of science is knowledge for its own sake, and not for immediate technological gain or social application. And yet, this pursuit—so seemingly removed from politics and policy—can ripple outward, shaping our understanding of the universe and, at times, changing the course of history. Chien-Shiung Wu’s career sta...

In the world of higher education, knowledge is often separated into two approaches: the deep and the broad. The former focuses on a single discipline—often associated with the sciences—while the latter encourages connections across fields, a style more familiar to the arts and humanities. Science, in this model, becomes a specialized, linear pursuit, while the liberal arts embrace breadth and interdisciplinarity. Dr. Purnima Sinha’s life and work defied these binaries. Purnima Sinha with  Prof SN Bose and Prof. PAM Dirac (top right), playing tabla (top left), with students (bottom left), and Dr. Sinha's PhD Thesis (bottom right)  ©  www.peepultree.world Emerging in the early decades of postcolonial India, she worked in X-ray crystallography—a field  of modern physics that analyze the structure of various materials—and became t he first woman from Calcutta University to earn a PhD in Physics. Howe ver,   her understanding of science transcended its disciplinary s...

I remember how, during my years of higher education, students in the sciences were seen as the most apolitical. Unlike universities, India’s scientific research institutions actively discouraged student politics.  When we had a few protests organized on campus, and there were professors who told students that if they were absent from the lab to participate in the protests, they should not come back to work.  This was all justified by the belief that science 'should not be politicized.' But I often felt the discomfort of being asked to detach my intellect from the political realities around me.  I knew that this so-called objectivity wasn’t objective at all, but a quiet reinforcement of the status quo. Wangari Maathai through protests and recognitions Reading about Wangari Maathai brought this tension into sharper focus. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a Ph.D. in Biology—and she refused the apolitical ideal so often pushed in scientific instituti...

In the end, whether by questioning inherited norms, affirming long-held values, or embracing their children’s evolving beliefs, raising daughters prompted many parents to revisit their understandings of gender. To deepen our understanding, we asked parents a more personal question: What is something valuable your daughter(s) has/have taught you that you hadn’t considered before? The answers to this question revealed something quite profound: parenting is both a mirror and a threshold, a place where old certainties are gently undone. Raising a child in today’s world becomes an intimate intergenerational dialogue, one that is especially catalyzed by daughters who are often more vocal and determined in challenging the world as it is. In this space, both voices shape the conversation, with parents discovering that, at times, they absorb as much as they hope to impart. What stood out most was the sheer breadth of what daughters are teaching their parents today. From values to language, ...

The first question served as a window into how parents perceive their relationships with their daughters. It prompted parents to reflect not only on their evolving bonds but also on how their daughters have challenged and enriched their worldviews. This discussion sets the stage for deeper explorations: How do daughters shape their parents’ views on gender roles, personal growth, and the world at large? This naturally led us to our next question "What is One Belief or Assumption You Had About Gender Roles That Changed While Raising Your Daughter(s)?" Parenting daughters prompted many to confront and unlearn traditional gender norms. Some respondents described how their views changed over time, while others shared moments that reshaped their understanding in an instant. Some shifts happened suddenly—triggered by a moment of insight. Most changes unfolded gradually, through repeated conversations, observations, or even disagreements. Whether through quiet reflection or spirited...

Parenting is often seen as a one-way street, where wisdom flows from parents to children. But daughters often challenge this flow, subtly remolding the very people who raise them. To understand this transformation, we surveyed parents (mostly mothers) to learn how their daughters have influenced their views on themselves as well as gender and social norms. Why focus on daughters? Because they represent a generation of women that often questions norms, pushes boundaries, and redefines the beliefs of those who raised them. Our aim wasn't to discuss parenting per se, but to explore how these young women are shaping the perspectives of their parents. As daughters ourselves, we understand the friction—and the insight—that can come from demanding change within the family. Families, as they exist today, are mostly non-democratic spaces. Gender biases tend to be more visible to daughters, who are more likely to confront these imbalances at home. While sons may also influence their parents,...

Before I write about anyone, I tend to look at the quotes and comments attributed to them to see how much of their personality I can connect with. I think of science as a work in progress, a continuous effort to unravel each knot to reveal some mysteries. So, Dorothy Hodgkin’s words, more than those of most scientists, resonate deeply with me whether it is “ The beauty of science lies in the intricate complexities of the natural world ” or “ Mistakes are inherent in scientific research and are valuable learning opportunities ”.  But for me, the quote that captures the essence of both her life and work would be “ Science does not exist in isolation; it is influenced by social, economic, and political factors ”.  Dorothy  was not just a brilliant scientist; she was a woman of vision, deeply aware of the world around her and the role science plays in shaping it. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin with her crystal structures and during the Nobel awarding ceremony Dorothy Mary Crowfoot ...