Sayantan Datta (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Centre for Writing and Pedagogy, Krea University, and an award-winning science journalist. Originally trained as a neuroscientist, their research and writing interests now lie at the intersections of science, gender, sexuality, caste, and health. They write two columns periodically: one with The Wire (Science) on Science and Gender and another with The News Minute (called The Next Wave) that focuses on contemporary debates around gender and sexuality.
The thematic focuses of Sayantan’s research are gender and sexuality, science education, and science journalism practice. They are particularly interested in documenting and understanding the experiences of gender- and sexually marginalized groups in the Indian science ecosystem.
For their report on gendered hostels in Indian science institutions, Sayantan was awarded the 13th Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity in 2023. Further, their children’s book, The Plant Whisperer (Pratham Books), was featured in Tata Trusts’ Parag Honour List 2023 and shortlisted for the Green Literature Festival Honour List (Category: Children’s Books) 2023.
Sayantan’s work has been supported previously by the National Association for Science Writers, USA, the Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures-India project, and the G3: Genderalities and Work grant from the reFrame Institute of Art and Expression.
Writing Pedagogy
Science Journalism
Gender
Sexuality
Science Studies
Caste
Public Health
Preprints
1) Wang, P., Sarkar, S.,…Datta, S….Jaiswal, M. “DYRK1A Interacts With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Promotes mTORC1 Activity”. BioRxiv, 18 January 2023
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.18.524493v1.abstract.
(Under Review: Advanced Science [Wiley])
2) Parekh, R., Datta, S. “Towards a (Trans) Inclusive Science Higher Education in India: Notes on Political Solidarity and Its Possibilities”. OSF Preprints, 29 December 2022
URL: https://osf.io/zcv6k/.
(Under Review: Curriculum Inquiry [Taylor and Francis])
Journal Publications
1) Datta, S. “On Authorship in Science: Power, Misconduct, Responsibility and Accountability”. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, VII, pp. 184-188,
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35695868/.
2) Datta, S., Jaiswal, M. “Mitochondrial Calcium at the Synapse”. Mitochondrion, 01 July 2021, 59, pp. 135- 153
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567724921000520.
3) Datta, S. “Do Women and Men Have ‘Sexed’ Brains?” Economic and Political Weekly (Engage), 22 January 2019, 54 (3)
URL: https://www.epw.in/engage/article/do-women-and-men-have-sexed-brains.
4) Datta, S. “Transfeminist Mobilisations Need to be Both Transformative and Transgressive”. Economic and Political Weekly (Engage), 28 July 2018, 53 (30),
5) Datta, S. “(Re)imagining Feminist Solidarities in Academic Spaces”. Economic and Political Weekly (Engage), 10 January 2018, 53 (1),
URL: https://www.epw.in/engage/article/reimagining-feminist-solidarities-academic-spaces.
6) Datta, S. “We Refuse to be Subjects of Experiment for Those Who Do Not Understand Us: TransgenderPersons Bill”. 08 December 2017, 52 (49),
Book Chapters
1) Datta, S. “Finding (Homo)sexuality in the Genome: A Critique of Genetic Investigations on Sexuality”.
Sexuality, Abjection and Queer Existence in Contemporary India, ed. Pushpesh Kumar, Routledge India,
29 July 2021, pp. 178-190.
Book Reviews
1) Datta, S. “Science and Religion in India: Beyond Disenchantment (Renny Thomas): A Review by Sayantan Datta”. Doing Sociology, 26 May 2022
Policy Briefs
Datta, S., Mukherjee, D., Gaikwad, P. “(Trans)forming Science: Towards a Transgender-Inclusive Science Higher Education in India”. ResearchGate, November 2022, URL: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sayantan-Datta-2/publication/365096203_Transforming_Science_Towards_a_Transgender_Inclusive_Science_Higher_Education_in_India/links/6364aa4254eb5f547c9ff543/Transforming-Science-Towards-a-Transgender-Inclusive-Science-Higher-Education-in-India.pdf
Writing and Oral Communication
Writing and Communication in Mathematics
