AI Interview!

K: There are several areas of Microbiology that are very important with regard to human health.

Like for instance, pathogens, infections, pandemics and epidemics, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, vaccines, and clinical applications.

Medical microbiology has significant clinical applications in areas like:

Infectious Disease Management: Diagnosing and treating infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Developing and implementing strategies to use antibiotics responsibly to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.

Infection Control: Implementing measures to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings and the wider community.

Vaccine Development: Researching and developing vaccines to protect against infectious diseases.

Image source: nottingham.ac.uk

However, the specific area that caught my attention in recent times is Human Microbiome because the more I read the research papers, the more it is getting connected to every aspect of human health.

Understanding the Microbiome: Studying the role of the human microbiome in health and disease, their control, including its impact on the immune system, digestion, and even mental health.

The microbiome's impact on chronic diseases, immune system development, and even mental health presents a largely untapped area for therapeutic and preventative interventions.

What is a microbiome?

The human body harbors trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome, which play a critical role in various bodily functions.

Research is revealing that the microbiome's influence extends beyond infectious diseases, impacting conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even neurological disorders.

Understanding the unique composition and function of an individual's microbiome could lead to personalized therapies and preventative strategies, moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches.

The microbiome provides a vast reservoir of potential therapeutic targets, including novel probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome-modulating drugs.

Early-life microbial exposures are crucial for immune system development. Disruptions in this process, due to factors like antibiotic use or reduced breastfeeding, can have long-term health consequences, suggesting a need for targeted interventions during critical developmental stages.

In essence, by understanding and manipulating the human microbiome, we can unlock unprecedented opportunities for improving human health across a wide spectrum of conditions, making it a truly exciting area for future research and development.

This is not a belief, this is based on solid research. There are so many facts emerging that sometimes I get amazed at the ability of microbiome controlling so much of human life!

----

K: The most important skill a science communicator needs today?

As this question is asked in the context of misinformation, the most important skill is undoubtedly the ability to differentiate between genuine stuff and pseudo-stuff.

This is not very easy to acquire.

You should have lots of genuine and first hand knowledge in science in the first place. This is the best way to inoculate yourself against misinformation.

Then you should have critical thinking abilities to comprehend what is what and what is naught.

You should also have the ability to differentiate between different aspects of pseudo-science, misinformation and disinformation, how they originate, propagate and stick to peoples’ minds.

Familiarizing yourself about the tricks used and ways followed by the spreaders will immunize you against misinformation.

You should also be able to recognize and choose only the “genuine sources” for your information, not anything available on the net. High quality scientific research journals are very reliable for scientific stories.

You should familiarize yourself on how the social media works and how people try to manipulate you into accepting pseudo-stuff.

You should approach scientific information with a very clear mind, not with any preconceived notions, biases, or fallacies to search for information that confirms your beliefs and ideas ignoring all the other useful stuff.

You have to double and triple-check stories. You should have the conviction that you would provide only the correct information as the costs of sharing misinformation can be high – to individuals, their relationships and society as a whole. Before you decide to share something, you should take a moment to remind yourself of the value you place on truth and accuracy.

You have a deep connection with your readers/ viewers/audience. They come to you because they trust you. In order to keep this trust alive forever, genuine honesty is the utmost priority with regard to misinformation elimination.

This is war against all pseudo-things and you must win it at any cost while communicating science.

Image source: iStockphoto

---

Q: What is one piece of technology you use almost every day to stay updated on new scientific research?

Internet undoubtedly! I access it using my PC and Phone.

K: My main literature sources are online journals that publish research papers, articles, scientists’ blogs, editorials and all things important with regard to scientific research.

I read about 70–80 research papers daily. That is not very easy. Your mind goes haywire at the end of the day if you are not careful. But I have been trained to cope with all this information load during my science-communication training. So my mind can stay alert at the end of the day too!

I get a thrill out of acquiring so much genuine knowledge daily.

However, I post only about 5–10 important papers on my science communication networks.

Image source: Shutterstock

----

Q: When you begin a new science-based artwork, what specific scientific detail do you usually focus on first?

K: Loved this question asked by AI.

While creating art works based on science, there are several important things to consider. But the main aim is science communication.

I first think about the scientific theme that would be useful to laymen especially the illiterates and scientific illiterates.

However, connecting science and art is a bit difficult as both work in opposite ways. Art shouldn’t dominate science here but should enhance its comprehension by being simple.

“Educational Theme” is the most important aspect I concentrate on first and how to bring it alive on a canvas so that the gist of my theme should impact human minds instantly.

There should be depth in my thought, not in my pictures. There is variation of colour in my themes, not in my work. I want my work to appeal to the mind – not to the eye!

Importance here is given to theme, fact, truth and science and not to other things that are main issues from an artistic point of view.

But the theme should be co-ordinated with culture, not contradict it for people to consider and accept it without any hinderance.

Moreover, I try not to deviate from the scientific point of view.

What is more difficult is I try to connect science, art and literature and sometimes designing too. I first select a theme, create art work on it and then write a story or a poem on it!

Because science is mainly based on facts and other subjects on fiction, beliefs, personal views, metaphors and intuitions that science finds difficult to accept.

The difficulty limits the number of works I can create. I cannot be prolific like many artists.

But my works are very, very rare.

Know what? When I exhibit my science-art works, people stand in front of them and discuss science, not art!

That is the beauty of science communication through art!