Profile

• Time Zone

  (GMT +5.5) Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, New Delhi

  
  
• Organization

  Maati-Paani-Asha Center

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I learn about old farming methods by talking to experienced farmers in Central India. They explain how their grandparents used to farm. I use this knowledge to make plans for our Model Farm, working together with a professor from Sterling College in Vermont. Then, professors from the Crop Science department at G.S. Gawande College help me put those plans into action on the farm. We keep track of everything: how much seed we plant, what kind, how the crops are growing, and how we are improving the soil. The goal is to find farming methods that help farmers with smaller lands (around 1-3 acres) earn more money and reduce risk. If a method does not work, we research more and talk to other farmers to find what might work better. It is about always learning, adjusting, and improving our techniques. Our mission is to combine traditional knowledge with new ideas to help local farmers succeed.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  When I was in Highschool (12th grade), my Biology teacher had a practical lab with live specimens of plant cells. One of them was that of Hydrilla which showed moving chloroplasts under the microscope. I was in awe of how cells were living and active and capable of processes that were visible to the naked eye - sending bubbles of oxygen up to the water surface (was done in the previous lab). Another time, it was the onion cell under the microscope which had contents moving around the huge vacuole. As a 17 yr old, I was in wonder looking at these plant cells and their ‘magical’ life visible under the microscope. I went on to pursue an optional project on diversity of plant leaves for my final project in 12th grade and I was hooked on Plant Biology.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

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• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  (not set)

  
  
• Profile Question 3

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• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

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• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  (not set)

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

Triple A Betsy J. Briju Oct 9 at 11:47am

Great job finishing the experiment. 

I see that you consider the watering frequency or lack of, as faulty. I believe that that as long as the paper towel was wet, you should be fine with the water availability for the seed. 

Was the…

more

Great job finishing the experiment. 

I see that you consider the watering frequency or lack of, as faulty. I believe that that as long as the paper towel was wet, you should be fine with the water availability for the seed. 

Was the seed you weighed belong to the container in the light? If so, there was an increase in weight of the seed+plantlet according to your data. Can you think of a reason - why would that be? You can respond here or just think about it!

I like how you have thought about future adjustments to your experiment. 

Dr. Betsy

The three amigos Betsy J. Briju Oct 1 at 12:51am

Great going, Team The Three Amigos! Would you add what you described here to the Box for Experimental Design. While there, please update the other boxes too as your thinking process has evolved into more specific Research question and Predictions!

… more

Great going, Team The Three Amigos! Would you add what you described here to the Box for Experimental Design. While there, please update the other boxes too as your thinking process has evolved into more specific Research question and Predictions!

Dr. Betsy

chicken and beans Betsy J. Briju Sep 30 at 11:27pm

Hi Salia,

Would you please upload jpeg versions of the picture files. Unable to see because this platform does not support HEIC files. 

Dr. Betsy