Go Sensible Science

Language has always been more than just a medium of communication. It is a carrier of identity, access, and — most importantly — power. When we look at how power is distributed globally, it's easy to forget how central language is to this equation. The influence of a language often parallels the economic dominance of its speakers. English, for instance, owes much of its global status not just to colonial legacy, but to the economic and technological supremacy of the US and UK. But this linguistic power has long created inequality in unexpected ways — especially in countries like India, where language often acts as an invisible filter, separating the privileged from the marginalized. Let me illustrate this with something I observed firsthand. In Kolkata, one of my school teachers came from a tribal background. His knowledge was deep, and if you spoke to him, you'd instantly sense his insight and compassion. But his English wasn’t fluent — a limitation that often over...

As engineers, we take pride in solving problems. We optimize systems, debug code, design robust architectures, and think in terms of precision and logic. But there’s one skill that quietly makes or breaks everything — a skill often underestimated in technical circles: communication . Yes, I’m talking about the good old art of expressing ideas clearly. This blog is a reflection on how communication – especially in the age of AI and prompt engineering – is becoming a non-negotiable skill, and how my own experience as an engineer (and a former theatre student) shaped this realization. The Engineering Mindset: Facts First, Communication Later? Engineering teaches us to focus on accuracy, efficiency, and function. We’re trained to get things right . But when it comes to sharing what’s in our mind — whether in design discussions, stakeholder meetings, or team emails — we often falter. Why? Because we tend to think logic alone should be enough . But here’s the truth: if o...

For centuries, engineers and scientists have sought to develop materials that are stronger, more durable, and more resilient to environmental stress. Yet, no matter how advanced a material may be, it inevitably suffers from wear and tear. Bridges develop cracks, aircraft components degrade under extreme conditions, and electronic devices break down over time. Traditionally, such damage requires human intervention—maintenance, repair, or replacement. But what if materials could repair themselves, just as human skin heals after an injury? This question has driven the emerging field of self-healing materials , a groundbreaking area of research that promises to transform multiple industries by making materials more sustainable, cost-effective, and resilient. Inspired by nature, these materials have the ability to autonomously detect and repair damage , enhancing the lifespan and reliability of infrastructure, vehicles, electronics, and even biomedical devices. However, while the technol...