Throughout our project, we constantly strived to reach out to underrepresented communities and work towards making science, synthetic biology and mental health more accessible to them. Our journey highlights how we recognized various barriers in access to science and mental health, how we interacted with people affected by these barriers, what we learnt from these interactions, and finally, how we took small steps to try bridging the gap. We made sure that our team represented voices from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We built a team of people from different parts of the country, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal. With our different cultures, languages, and fresh perspectives, we worked towards our shared goals. We are a team of almost equal gender representation, and some of us are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and actively part of Mazhavil, the pride club of our institute. Queer issues are personal to the team, and hence, we decided to focus on the intersection of the queer community, academia, and mental health throughout our journey.
Partnering with our institute pride club, Mazhavil, we initiated many illuminating conversations about mental health within the queer community, especially within academic settings. These conversations delved into the challenges that members have personally faced, including the fear of coming out and being themselves in academic settings and their concerns of discrimination and missed opportunities. We also talked about how several mental health practitioners are not trained to deal with the unique problems faced by the community. Mazhavil's invaluable contributions played a pivotal role in ensuring that our initiatives were inclusive and resonated with a diverse range of voices and experiences. As part of our joint efforts, we organized a queer science quiz, an engaging event that not only strengthened our connections but also helped us extend our reach to a broader audience. We also participated in collaboration with Mazhavil and Ether, the institute magazine, for their pride month magazine edition (link). We were able to provide a creative platform to discuss many facets of the LGBTQIA+ community that often go unnoticed.
We reached out to the LGBTQ+ academia WhatsApp group, a safe space that was created to unite queer individuals in academic circles. Our project details and surveys were shared within this community to ensure that the voices and perspectives of queer individuals were not only heard but actively included in our discourse. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with this vibrant community and use their insights to make our initiatives more inclusive and responsive to the needs of queer academics.
During our interview with Dr. Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman, an Associate Professor in psychology and biology at Ashoka University, we discussed the need for academia to support its queer subcommunity. Dr.Bittu, a genderqueer transman, shared their experiences as a trans person in academia and a queer rights activist, and talked about the interconnectedness of queerness and their politics. The conversation brought to light the challenges faced by queer and especially trans individuals in STEM spaces, including issues related to access to education and resources, as well as queer mental health. It underscored the need for increased representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in academia and calls for systemic changes to encourage more access to science and synthetic biology. Dr. Bittu’s story serves as an inspiration for STEM students and the queer community, highlighting the importance of representation. We conducted and published our insightful interview with Dr. Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman and through the video, we raised awareness about the challenges faced by the queer community, especially in academia. The interview, conducted in partnership with Ether and Mazhavil, highlighted issues like access to education and queer mental health. We shared this interview as reels on Instagram and a video on YouTube, to make it accessible to a wider audience. Dr. Rajaraman's insights spark vital conversations and research on the challenges faced by queer scientists, aiming to drive systemic changes for greater access to science and synthetic biology while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the scientific community.
Our Queer Science Quiz not only celebrated the remarkable achievements of queer scientists but also shed light on the pressing need for a more inclusive scientific community. This event aimed to highlight the valuable contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals in STEM fields and to spark discussions about the importance of diversity and representation in science and academia.
We made sure our surveys were actively circulated to members of the queer community to ensure proper representation. Surveys provided an anonymous platform for queer people to share their thoughts and experiences comfortably. You can find the survey here!
Through our collaboration with 'Into Their Minds', we conducted an interview with Durjoy Sen, a trans man from Kolkata. Durjoy, who goes by he/him pronouns, openly shared his experiences with depression and OCD, providing valuable insights into the intersection of gender and mental health. His candid discussion covered topics such as dysphoria and the challenges he faced, including the necessity to leave an all-girls college when he began his transition. Read more about our interview here (link)
We had the wonderful opportunity to meet Sharin and Aiswarya from the Initiative for Health Equity, Advocacy and Research (iHEAR), an initiative by Sangath, a non-profit organisation. iHEAR aims to research, advocate and educate at the intersection of marginalised identities, health access and mental health. They talked to us about their successful ongoing projects on trans mental healthcare, including extensively researching and documenting how trans people were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We discussed why the more vulnerable groups need more attention, how policies should work towards removing social and financial barriers, and how to make academia, workplaces, and society more inclusive. Find out more about our meeting here!
We created an inclusivity database, a comprehensive resource that compiles information about academic institutions across India that have Pride clubs or queer collectives. This resource is designed to empower individuals who seek safe and inclusive spaces within the academic environment. We firmly believe that education should be accessible to all. By curating the information on these support groups and their locations, we aim to allow everyone to choose an educational institution that aligns with their values and priorities.
From our many interactions with the LGBTQ+ community as well as the experiences of our own queer members, we were able to receive many invaluable opinions and insights. These dialogues have illuminated the challenges faced by queer individuals, particularly within academic and workplace settings. The fear of coming out, concerns about discrimination, and the need for inclusive practices have emerged as prominent themes. Our conversations underscored the importance of accessible mental health support tailored to the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community and the critical role of empathy and active listening in fostering inclusivity. Furthermore, we recognize the significance of creating platforms for open discourse on often-overlooked facets of the LGBTQIA+ community, where their voices and experiences can be authentically shared and celebrated.
We had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Dr Devasena, a researcher from RGCB, who gave us an insightful perspective on women and queer people in science spaces. She is in charge of the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) program, an Indian government initiative striving to provide equal opportunities to women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) in Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum. She talked about the importance of addressing the gender disparity in academia and how educational institutions need to work towards creating open avenues for everyone. As part of the GATI programme, statistics from across the board for minority groups are periodically collected throughout their entire journey in higher education, right from admissions to acceptance, to see where exactly the problem lies. This data is analysed and reviewed for discussions on underlying reasons and potential solutions through policy changes. They follow the SMART objectives - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound, to bring about modifications to policies. According to Dr. Devasena, they have noticed a significant disparity in several institutes, and this calls for progress in academia for under-represented communities.
In the interview with Lekha Ma'am, she candidly discussed the historical underrepresentation of women in academia and the systemic challenges they face. She emphasized the need to address the disparities, noting that women often have to work twice as hard for equal opportunities. Despite these challenges, she expressed her happiness at witnessing more girls and women entering the field, highlighting the positive change and growing representation.
The owner of a start-up today and an ex-academician, Lavanya ma'am opened up to us about her journey through the last decade as a woman navigating the science and entrepreneurship spaces. She spoke about the challenges that come with being a woman her age in India - the underestimation, the unequal opportunities, the societal pressure of conforming to the stereotype, and how these affect their mental health. She also highlighted her triumphs through her inspiring journey - the unwavering dedication to taking her own decisions and doing what she loves. We were nothing short of amazed with her inspiring story, and that meeting not only helped us realize the true potential of OASYS in the real world, but also of the intersection of mental health and gender roles.
Kerala’s Integrated Child Development Services and Decentralization Scheme, featuring around 3000 Anganwadis, is the world's largest women and child development program. It coordinates healthcare, education, and social welfare activities. The Jagratha Samithi, or 'Vigilance Committee,' initiated by the Kerala Women Commission, helps reduce the gap between women in villages and government services. It acts as a quasi-judicial mechanism at the Panchayat level to protect women and children's rights. Kudumbashree, a poverty eradication and women empowerment program, is implemented by the Kerala government. During our human practices endeavours, we had the opportunity to talk to the representatives of:
All of these institutions acknowledge and attempt to address women's vulnerability to mental health issues, often related to their spouses' alcohol abuse. Informal platforms like Anganwadi workers and Kudumbasree representatives provide essential communal support, especially in a community where people tend to shy away from discussing sensitive topics like mental health issues.
We ensured equal representation of all genders in our efforts to connect with people for our project. We had the excellent opportunity of meeting several women from different walks of life and various fields of expertise for discussions on improving our project and conducting thoughtfully implemented educational and awareness activities aimed at women. We ensured equal representation of all genders in our efforts to connect with people for our project. Even though there has been considerable progress in women's representation in the last few decades, we have a long way to go to make cultural changes, especially in a developing country like India. Embracing our diversities and ensuring that all its citizens have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the developmental process is crucial for the betterment of a nation.Our visit to the local Primary Healthcare Centre was full of interactions with the elderly. We distributed our surveys, receiving an enormous number of responses. People talked to us about what they know about mental health and its related issues and shared stories from their own experiences and those of others around them. We realized that mental health issues among the elderly are prevalent and that some reasons are uncertainties, isolation, grief, and economic challenges. We realized that older people do know about mental illnesses, but oftentimes, they don’t know the words to describe them. This lack of awareness leads to less utilization of available mental healthcare resources. We then distributed our surveys, which contained information about depression, mental health, and resources to helpline numbers.
The IIT Roorkee team visited an old age home in Haridwar in their efforts to interact with the elderly and assess their awareness of mental illnesses. We also distributed our surveys and pamphlets. We realized how clinical depression as a disease could affect various people very differently. More details about the event and the collaboration can be found here!
We designed a fun and informative book about the basics of synthetic biology and genetic engineering - diving into the world of microbes, aimed at kids around the age of 10.
We recognized the significance of ensuring that our information is accessible to everyone, including individuals with visual impairments, dyslexia, and color blindness. We researched ways to make our social media designs, wiki and other designs accessible to these communities. Small changes can allow us to make this more accessible to everyone. Some examples include alt text for images, contrasting colour palettes and using dyslexia-friendly fonts.
We ensured our color palettes for social media and wiki were colour-blindness-friendly.
We used sans serif fonts that were easier to read for those with dyslexia. The size of the fonts was also decided to make sure they were legible.
The captions for promo video were included for the hearing-impaired.
With a diverse team comprising of members who speak various languages, we recognized the need for accessibility in language when addressing mental health issues, especially in regions like Kerala. An important learning in our project journey was that mental illnesses are not just a global issue but also a local one. Through our multiple interactions with people in our local communities, we realized that people know what mental illnesses are; however, they don’t have the right words to describe them - especially in English. This makes a large chunk of the mental healthcare facilities inaccessible to a major part of the population. Hence, it is crucial that information about mental health is available in languages that resonate with local communities. As a part of our efforts to bridge the language and communication gap, we translated our mental health resources, such as pamphlets and presentations, into our local language - Malayalam. We also translated our promo video subtitles into ten different languages, in line with our goal to spread awareness on mental health importance. Bringing into consideration regional inclusivity, we also reached out to the local government high schools for outreach activities. All our presentations, talks, and games were conducted in Malayalam.
Making science, synthetic biology, and mental health more accessible to underrepresented communities has been an utmost priority for us throughout our project. We aimed to connect, interact and learn from people whose voices often go unheard. Different perspectives that we received through these interactions helped shape the project’s impact. We recognise the importance of inclusivity and intersectionality in the people we reach out to, and this shines through in all our thoughtfully implemented work.