Report on Second Saturday Lecture and IUCAA Laboratory Visit
Date: 12 September 2026
Venue: Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
Participants: 10 Girls from Std. IX
Speaker: Dr. Milind Watve, Former Professor of Biology, IISER Pune
A group of 10 girls from Std. IX attended the Second Saturday Lecture at IUCAA, Pune, on 12 September 2026. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Milind Watve, former Professor of Biology at IISER Pune, who specialises in evolutionary biology and scientific mentorship.
The lecture was highly interesting, interactive and thought-provoking. Dr. Watve encouraged students to question commonly accepted explanations and look at everyday biological phenomena from an evolutionary perspective. He discussed fascinating questions such as why sugar tastes sweet and whether it is simply because of our taste buds. He also explained why faeces smell unpleasant, highlighting the role of our pre-decided responses and evolutionary conditioning.
Another fascinating example was the long neck of giraffes. Rather than accepting the simple explanation that giraffes developed long necks only to reach leaves on higher branches, Dr. Watve encouraged students to consider how an organism develops as an integrated and well-fitted system, with several factors influencing its evolution.
Using the “Driver and Navigator” concept, he also explained that insulin alone is not wholly responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. This analogy helped students understand the complexity of biological systems and the interaction of multiple factors in maintaining physiological balance.
Special Opportunity at IUCAA
The visit became even more memorable when, among students from several schools, our school students were selected for a special opportunity to explore the IUCAA laboratories and participate in their pilot project involving UVSAT images. This provided them with valuable exposure to real scientific research, laboratory facilities and the application of technology in astronomy and space science.
It was indeed a proud moment for our school to see our students being selected for such an enriching experience at a prestigious scientific institution. The opportunity encouraged them to explore science beyond textbooks and experience how scientific research is actually conducted.
Overall, the visit to IUCAA was a wonderful blend of learning, curiosity, scientific exploration and hands-on exposure. The students returned with new questions, new perspectives and greater enthusiasm for science and research.
