In this workshop that is not really a workshop, Professor Neeraja Sankaran shares some stories about the central, even essential, role that reading has played and continues to play in shaping her as a student, teacher, scholar, writer, and indeed, as a person beyond the boundaries of work. She will discuss some of the books that influenced her decisions at various points in her life, as she transitioned from studying microbiology to writing and ultimately to the history of science. Included are some favourite authors writing in different genres, both within and outside the academy, as well as a few textbooks and, yes, sometimes movies too, that she always returns to assign in very different classes for different reasons. She will then moderate a discussion among some of the participants in the reading challenge, who have undertaken to read books on the theme of science and society, before opening the session to the audience and giving them a chance to ask questions of both her and the discussion participants.

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM IST
Venue: Room 207, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus