The resource person, Dr. Hansika Kapoor, a researcher & psychologist at Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, is an IIT-Mumbai graduate who works on the concept of dark creativity. The workshop included self-introduction by the faculty of NUCSER, especially about their cultural exposure thus far.
It was an interactive session with the resource person where she emphasized that diverse cultural exposure challenges our preconceived notions and reduces bias. The participants enthusiastically shared their expectations from the workshop and in the process highlighted their experiences from classroom settings, which could classify as bias and were keen to know ways to mitigate them. Dr. Kapoor discussed the cycle of bias that encompasses the origin and perpetuation of bias in human behaviour. She introduced the Implicit Association Test, a quantitative measure of bias in human behaviour, which is a part of Project Implicit hosted by Harvard University, USA. She also explained the Pygmalion effect in bias that acts as a positive feedback loop to reinforce ingrained preconceptions. In the last section of the workshop, she presented approaches to combat bias in an academic setting via practising mindfulness, increasing empathy, engaging with diverse people and adopting cross-disciplinarity. The workshop closed with the sapient message to ‘think before acting’, signifying the impact of mindfulness in classroom interactions.
Prof. (Dr) Anirban Chakraborty, Director, NUCSER gave the concluding remarks and appreciated the active involvement of the faculty members and urged his colleagues to put into practice and in their teaching, the lessons from the workshop.
Dr. Arshdeep Sidhu, Member Secretary, ICDPCT-NUCSER, proposed the vote of thanks and moderated the event.
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