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Understanding Viruses - Appreciation Session

Understanding Viruses - Appreciation Session

Isn't it fascinating that a microscopic being has been able to press the pause button on human society? What are viruses? How do they exist? Are they living or non-living? How does modern medicine counteract the effect of virsues?

Starts

21 November 2020

Time

On Days

Fee (₹, incl taxes)

Audience

About the Course

GenWise Appreciation Session: 1 Session Only

Ages 13-18


Isn't it fascinating that a microscopic being has been able to press the pause button on human society? Let's use this opportunity that COVID-19 has given us to explore some questions: what are viruses? How do they exist? Are they living or non-living? How does modern medicine counteract the effect of viruses?


Fun Contemporary Fact: Extracted from The Hindu, Oct 7, 2020

At a time when the world is faced with multiple assaults from a frighteningly obscure virus, it cannot be mere coincidence that the Nobel Committee decided to anoint three scientists who peeled the layers off another virus that confounded generations of physicians — the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice, is a stout endorsement of years of work that went towards identifying one of the world’s greatest scourges. 

But to see it shorn of the context it is couched in would be to miss the larger point or purpose it could serve. Choosing researchers who went after a pathogen, and succeeded in unwrapping the whole puzzle at a time when others are fighting fatigue in a daily battle against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is also a hat tip to the virologists and geneticists burning the midnight oil, for over nine months now.

About our Facilitator:

Rachit is an electronics engineer who has been designing analog circuits for the past decade. His work experience includes Cosmic Circuits and Cadence Design Systems (which acquired Cosmic Circuits), on the design of integrated circuits for audio codecs, serial interfaces, and phase locked loops amongst other things. He likes to spend his time on reading, understanding audio, building speakers, music, and sports.


Rachit has a Masters degree from the Centre For Electronic Design And Technology at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.


Muralidhar (aka Murali) is senior mentor and course designer at GenWise with 20+ years of experience in the social sector. In addition to delivering Vocational Training to young adults, he is currently responsible for design, manufacturing and marketing operations at a traditional handicraft (wooden toys) enterprise near Bengaluru. Murali has also delivered training and professional development programs for secondary science teachers and 'making' skills to "gifted students" for around 4 years.


Murali has a bachelor's degree in Engineering from IIT Madras.

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