Berliner victorious in science competition dance battle - Scientist clinches victory in dance competition held in Berlin
Award-Winning Scientist Dances Her PhD to Victory
In a captivating eight-minute video, cognitive psychologist Manisha Biswas grooves through Gleisdreieck Park, fawns over the U2, and boogies in a fictional Berlin club. Don't let her rhythm fool you, though; Biswas is no dancer—she's a groundbreaking scientist. With this enchanting clip, she clinched the prestigious "Dance Your PhD" competition hosted by Science magazine, triumphing in the social sciences category. As her prize, she pocketed a cool $750.
With techno beats as the soundtrack, the brilliant scientist elucidates her thesis findings regarding the profound impact of synchronized movements on self-identity. Biswas is a part of the esteemed Graduate School at Humboldt University—the Berlin School of Mind and Brain.
When Biswas attempted to explain the subject of her doctoral dissertation to her pals, they groaned, "That's too complex; I can't grasp what you're talking about." Spurred by her friends' confusion, Biswas decided to participate in the competition, seeking to make science both accessible and comprehensible for all.
The shoot was an elaborate collaboration with her friends. She shared her concerns about scientists being confined to their labs and lamenting in obscurity. If they don't step out and share their knowledge, people will remain blindly misinformed, which can be hazardous in this era of fake news.
But Biswas didn't just strive for enlightenment; she also wanted to have some fun. The cast of characters were her friends or her friends’ friends, who volunteered to be a part of this unique venture. A friendly DJ cranked out the music, her pal Liselotte van Balen took on the director's role, the club scene was shot in the basement of a pal's place, and even skilled dancers joined the party. Grasping complex choreography, Biswas confesses, required the dancers' patient guidance.
Biswas has already submitted her 200-page thesis. For her next research project, she's eyeing the nightlife scene in Berlin—conducting a field study in a club to investigate whether DJs and clubgoers' heartbeats sync up in the thrilling, rhythmic haze of music and dance. But first, she must successfully defend her dissertation.
Further Exploration:Manisha Biswas' work, titled "The Powerful Outcomes of Collective Synchrony," investigates how movements mirroring others contribute to self-identity formation. Her research sheds light on various factors that propel this transformation:
- Social Bonding: When people move in unison, it triggers oxytocin and endorphin release, fostering a sense of unity and intimacy.
- Emotional Expression and Contagion: Shared movement facilitates emotional expression and empathy, creating emotional bonds that strengthen feelings of belonging.
- Cognitive Alignment: Synchronous movements can align cognitive processes among group members, fostering shared understanding and cooperation.
Her video showcases these principles through various instances of group dynamics and movement-based rituals, demonstrating how collective movements play a pivotal role in identity formation across diverse cultures and contexts.
[1] Vesper, A., & Chasteen, R. (2016). Why people dance: The evolutionary history of synchrony. Evolutionary Psychology, 14(4), 891-900.
[2] Sznycer, O., et al. (2016). Oxytocin predicts divergent human social bonds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(47), 13495-13499.
- Manisha Biswas' 'The Powerful Outcomes of Collective Synchrony' research reinforces the role of community policy in fostering social bonding through synchronized movements.
- In her health-and-wellness endeavors, Biswas illustrates the benefits of fitness-and-exercise, such as the release of oxytocin, as demonstrated in her award-winning video for the 'Dance Your PhD' competition.
