Senior Scientist Prof Vinita Bal delivered the second HSTP lecture on Saturday at the Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal. Speaking on the topic of “Women, Science, Environment and Society”, Prof Bal, who is a senior scientist and a feminist, addressed critical questions related to women’s engagement with science and environment. Women's connection with science and the environment is an integral part of society.
This connection can be broadly considered under two parts. Firstly, how does society influence women's attitudes and behaviours as a consequence of socio-cultural upbringing and is the issue of science and rationality getting enough importance? Is the role of patriarchal attitude a major contributor to what we see around us? Secondly, how do women, who have had formal higher education in natural sciences, do in this patriarchal society when they are attempting to use their skillsets? Women can be teachers as well as researchers in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, mathematics, medicine, physics etc.
How does society treat them, what role are they playing today and what role should we envisage for tomorrow? These questions were addressed by Prof Bal using examples and data. The lecture was preceded by a play “Jadui coat aur char chor” performed by children of Eklavya’s field programme Kesalwada village in Obedullaganj.
The play was based on the movie 'Karamati Coat' directed by Ajay Karthik. It was directed by Avijit Solanki and music was by Anubhuti Sharma. Organised jointly with the Regional Museum of Natural History, the event is part of the series of programmes organised to commemorate Eklavya’s 40th anniversary and 50th anniversary of Hoshangabad Science Teaching Programme (HSTP). Eklavya would also be organising the second edition of Malwa Mahila Kabir Yatra which will culminate in Bhopal.