Thread by @weatherindia

On #WomensDay, Dr Rohini Godbole Talks About Her Journey in Particle Physics, Women in Science and More

@iiscbangalore #InternationalWomensDay

By @MrigDixit

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@iiscbangalore @MrigDixit Dr Rohini M Godbole, a renowned particle physicist from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (@iiscbangalore), has proved her mettle in the field of science not just in India but across the globe.

#InternationalWomensDay #WomensDay

@iiscbangalore @MrigDixit Dr Rohini, who hails from Pune, Maharashtra, started her scientific career way back in 1969 when even a journey from Pune to Delhi was a challenge for a girl.

#InternationalWomensDay #WomensDay

@iiscbangalore @MrigDixit Despite all odds, her passion and curiosity kept her going. Today, in addition to being a popular scientist, she is also a science communicator, an author and an avid supporter of women in science.

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@iiscbangalore @MrigDixit On the occasion of #InternationalWomenDay, we spoke to Dr Rohini to know about her journey in science, a career in particle physics, her famous book Lilavati’s daughter and her overall experience as a leading woman scientist in the world.

#WomensDay

👉 How did your career in science take off?

I think the atmosphere in the house trained me excellently for a career in academics, although in humanities and not in science! Scholarship and the associated experiences were responsible for my first steps in Science.

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👉What were the major challenges when you started your journey in the field of particle physics in the 1970s?

The main challenge I faced was getting accustomed to a completely foreign environment of the US University. The cultural difference was huge.

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👉 You devoted nearly 30 years to particle physics & played a significant part in the discovery of the Higgs particle in 2013.

I did devote a major part of my working life to the Standard Model of particle physics & the Higgs boson is the cornerstone of the same.

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👉 From your experience, it is evident that scientific research is not easy—it takes a lot of patience! What keeps you motivated?

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👉 Among all your ‘eureka’ moments, which is the one you are most proud of?

We were looking at interactions of high-energy photons with each other & their interactions with protons etc. This involved studying Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) that had not been probed at the colliders

👉 What would be your message to the women and girls in science on this day?

Once you decide your path, even if there are difficulties, you tend not to give up because then no difficulty is too much and no obstacle is too high.

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