Area of Practice

Science education, Educational research, Storytelling in science, Bio-inspired design

Education

Masters in Zoology from Calcutta University, Kolkata

PhD in Science Education from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR), Mumbai.

Received the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Alumni Association- B.M. Udgaonkar Award for the Best thesis of the year, 2013-2014. 

Work Experience

Worked at RV Educational Consortium (Bangalore) as a Project Facilitator for D.Ed. teachers, collaborated with other teammates from the Consortium in conducting research and field work on teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge in science and mathematics education

Interest Areas

Research and pedagogy in science and technology education, history and philosophy of science; science, technology and society (STS); biologically inspired design and biomimicry; design education, storytelling and science

Current Practice at Srishti

Teaching and research faculty at the Centre for Education, Research, Training and Development (CERTAD)

Head of Studies - Creative Education course

Designing and facilitating interdisciplinary studios at the intersection of Education, Biology, Technology, Design, Literature, and History with an aim to nurture diverse forms of inquiry and scholarship.

Creative practice and Outreach

Conducted a research study with Quest Alliance and published the Report ‘Blended Learning: Experiences in public education and design principles for low-tech environments’

Reviewed Conference papers for episteme International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education.

Conducted online workshop session with middle and high school teachers at Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education (CETE), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Reviewed journal manuscript for the International Journal of E-Learning and Distance Education (IJEDE).

Published articles and book chapters in a variety of international journals on education, science and design pedagogy.

Recent publications:

Khunyakari, R., Padalkar, S. Ara, F., Singh, G. (2022). “Strengthening learning through visuospatial experiences: Initiatives from the Indian Context,” in M. Ramchand, et al. (eds) Learning without Burden: Where are We a Quarter Century after the Yash Pal Committee Report. 1st edn. London, UK: Routledge India, pp. 305–347.

Vijaysimha, I. and Ara, F. (2022). Blended Learning: Experiences in public education and design principles for low-tech environments. Quest Alliance, Bangalore, India.