STORY CREDITS
Writer: Vasudha Chatterjee
Photo: Diptanka Sekhar De
Igniting curiosity and sparking innovation, the Curiosity Conference and Carnival at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) is an event like no other. While conferences are common in fields like engineering, medicine, humanities, and the arts, a gathering centered around curiosity itself is a rare occurrence. Hosted on January 18-19, 2025, this two-day event was organised by IITGN’s Curiosity Lab in collaboration with the Center for Curiosity, Art@IITGN, and the Social Action and Policy Lab, under the guidance of Prof Jaison Manjaly, Jasubhai Memorial Chair Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences (Jointly with Cognitive and Brain Sciences department), IITGN, Argha Manna, Aritst-in-Residence, Humanities and Social Sciences, IITGN, and Prof Sriram Kanvah Gundimeda, Professor, Chemistry, IITGN. Designed to enhance the spirit of curiosity in both school and university students, the conference brought together an eclectic mix of academicians, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, and students.
The Curiosity Conference featured keynote talks, thought-provoking panel discussions, and poster presentations on a range of themes including “Curiosity and Education”, “Curiosity and Art”, and “Curiosity and Social Behavior Change”. These sessions fostered a deeper understanding of how curiosity can shape the future of learning and innovation. The Curiosity Carnival, on the other hand, was a hub of interactive and fun-filled activities designed to stimulate the minds of students. Highlights included workshops on “How to Make Your Own Telescope,” “Blackout Poetry,” “Anatomy of Robots,” “Toys and Game Design,” “The Art of Improvisation: Ragas, Sitar, and Curiosity” and more.

Around 3500 students from various schools in and around Gandhinagar participated in the event, filling the IITGN campus with infectious enthusiasm. Noting the significance of this initiative, Prof Manjaly said: “All of us – scientists, artists, educators – discover and learn, simply because we are inherently curious. Had the humankind not trusted its inbuilt faculty of curiosity, we would have not evolved to where we are today. We are delighted to host the 2nd edition of the Curiosity Conference and Carnival as it is our attempt to nurture the curiosity within children, which often fades as they grow older.”
Adding to Prof Manjaly’s thoughts, Dr Sukanya Sinha, Visiting Scientist, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, shared her experiences with middle school students, and delineated the significance of fostering curiosity in educational spaces, especially schools. In her keynote address, she described a number of hands-on-activities, which can make science learning joyful, yet meaningful.
In addition to the intellectual discussions, the Curiosity Carnival showcased art and toy exhibits that offered innovative approaches to education. A two-day film festival provided an enriching cinematic experience with screenings of films such as Kummatty (1979), Where Is The Friend’s House? (1987), and Spirited Away (2001). The event also featured a captivating art exhibition, with works including I Am The Grass by Argha Manna, Earth 1002025 by Argha Manna and Sumon Choudhury, Aritst-in-Residence, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Shroom! by Pratyasha Nath, a visual artist and a final year student of Biotechnology at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. The event culminated in the launch of Curiosity Chronicle – a newspaper filled with science knowledge, puzzles and methods, aimed at school children, along with Manna’s sketchbook, I Am The Grass, I Cover All, by Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, and Prof Manjul Bhargava, Professor, Princeton University. The occasion not only celebrated artistic expression but also emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to education, where science, art, and curiosity seamlessly converge to inspire and engage.
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