On Episode 83 of #LearningStories we chat with Amrita Singh. Amrita is a neuroscientist; she earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 2023 and currently works at as a clinical research scientist. She has always been interested in writing. She runs a blog called 'Learning To Be Happy' where she writes about various topics of interest including, but not limited to, popular science and mental health. She is also working on writing fiction. Since April 2023, she has volunteered for CEGIS, an organization that aims to improve the governance of Indian states. She loves playing board games, singing, and dabbling in all kinds of art. In this episode we spoke about her childhood influences, life as a scientist and her love for reading and writing.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Podcast Introduction

(01:10) - Guest Background

(02:40) - How has your perspective on Science changed as a neuroscientist?

(03:25) - "I wanted to be a scientist from a very young age"

(03:30) - "My parents are both scientists"

(03:32) - "I grew up on a university campus in Mumbai"

(04:15) - What were your earliest memories of neuroscience in a lab?

(05:30) - "In college I got much more interested in the biology of the brain"

(05:50) - What are some challenges of working in academia?

(08:30) - "There is a lot of pressure to publish papers for any individual scientist"

(10:45) - How to make science fun, accessible and engaging for children?

(15:30) - How can parents help their children develop an excitement for Science?

(16:00) - "A lot of kids in schools develop a very negative association of Science"

(16:05) - "Science is difficult because they don't understand the fundamentals"

(17:00) - "Kids are naturally curious"

(19:00) - How can libraries or museums inspire children

(19:40) - "I remember going to Nehru Planetarium as a child to see the dome with stars"

(20:30) - What were the first books you loved reading as a student?

(21:30) - "I read voraciously as a kid"

(23:00) - Why were you obsessed with the Harry Potter Series?

(24:00) - What were two books you loved reading as a young adult?

(25:00) - What was your relationship to libraries as a student?

(25:40) - "In college and during my PhD reading took a hit

(26:00) - How audiobooks got you out of a reading slump?

(27:00) - Why is reading as an adult much more difficult

(28:30) - What did you like about, 'Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss?

(29:00) - What keeps you motivated to read as an adult

(30:00) - How do you discover and find new books to read?

(33:00) - How did you discover 'Persepolis' by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud?

(34:10) - "I have read several books by authors from different nationalities"

(35:10) - "I get recommendations from my book club here in New York"

(39:10) - When did you first start writing? What did you write about?

(41:00) - "A bunch of us kids decided to write a storybook

(42:00) - "I liked writing short stories and essays"

(44:00) - How did you end up enrolling in an online writing course?

(45:00) - "In 2023 the way to write is to create a Substack

(46:00) - What were the stories behind your first essays on Substack?

(49:50) - "I love writing and now it is the best part of my week"

(52:00) - Why did you write an essay on music lyrics?

(58:00) - What is the connection between art and neuroscience?

(1:02:50) - What is the evolutionary purpose of art?

(1:07:00) - Podcast and Music Recommendations

(1:09:00) - Tell us about your work with public policy and governance

(1:13:00) - Closing Notes

Links

Amrita on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrita-singh-5546568b/

Amrita on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amoose_art

'Learning to be Happy' Substack - https://learningtobehappy.substack.com/

Description

This is an audio and video show where we interview a diverse set of learners from the 21st century. Each guest profiled here has a unique story to share about how they acquired a set of valuable skills and knowledge in a creative and innovative manner.