An Effort to promote Scientific Temperament: The Socratic Method and beyond...

Firsts to Finals.

As a freshman I attended my first college quiz at P1, Hindu College, namely, Nutri-Geek: A General Science Quiz by The Science Forum in collaboration with Manthan - The Quizzing Society, as a first year the questions were daunting to be honest. Never seen such paragraph style questions with subtle hints to arrive at the answers, no options and writing on a page in a room with almost no space to sit.

Over time, I evolved and learned this kind of quizzing as a quizzer myself (since Grade 1). Although, I wondered there was a lack of equity in quizzing and a big gap for those who are interested to learn and those who are already the nerds as we know. I joined both, TSF as wel as Manthan. And by the end of my first-year, I got the opportunity to host my first quiz for TSF - "Loud-N-NuClear" as was decided for the name alongside my senior from Manthan. A general science quiz again but I realized that we were making sets al for the quizzers alone.

This session though, as a core member at both the societies, I sought to make quizzing more academic (no attendance), equitable and freshers' friendly. And we proved that with Brain-Grain (replaced Nutri-Geek) and we made it a "Nutri-Science Quiz" rather. With a record number of participation of 200+, hosting the preliminary round in four venues simultaneously and giving opportunity to new quizmasters and emerging quizzers. Post-that we held another banger "The Lunar Quiz" on a moon observation night under the sky in open air. Despite rain and al the mess, we witnessed the enthusiasm of new students wiling to learn more Science and have fun in encouragement of learning.

What does al that matter to you? What is a Quiz, in fact?

Now, I bring to you "Loud & Nu-Clear 2.0" from where I began my journey as a quizmaster to an experimental form of quiz competition, one which bring equity with a reservation of freshmen/school and female students as wel and from what people understand the most - MCQs alongside the traditional Potpourri questions. With not just heavy texts where students leave in the middle, but something with which they can connect - audio-visual, jeopardy and progressive hints.

This would probably be my last assignment with The Science Forum, and I want everyone to join and be a part of a tradition of asking questions. As Socrates described it 'Elenchus' which finds its essence in refuting answers till we know the truth. Quizzing is not just about answering questions but provoking people to ask the 'right' questions. And what else is needed the most today? A world where we already have an answer to everything on our fingertips (quite literally), and not just an answer but many answers, more often than not - misinformed ones.

In such a time, knowing what to ask (to ChatGPT) and anybody else is the most critical skil we need to have. A quiz is not about knowing trivia but it's a game of memory, reasoning and analysis. It makes you think on your feet, to take risks and make decisions.

Why should you quiz? and why Loud & Nu-Clear?

Quizzing builds your personality, as a much more aware person of things happening around you, you connect with people, I know a lot of legendary quizmasters who have got married with their quiz partners (so it can also be a place to find a date), plus you get to live with so much more to have with you anywhere you are and everywhere you go.

Loud & Nu-Clear is a Science Quiz; a lot of non-Science students ask or doubt if they would be able to attempt such questions, but quizzing at least this one, is not to haunt you but encourage you to build within you - scientific temperament which I see especialy lacking around us. A Science student might have an edge but most of us watched Oppenheimer and vibe with the BG score - "Can You Hear the Music", go check this out if you haven't already (or maybe you have but you didn't know the track title).

It's just reading a bit more trivia, about the lives of the great minds (scientists), about stories like Newton leaving science for pursuit of the pseudo-science (alchemy) in search of the Philosopher's Stone. That is what makes it fun, 'things you know and don't' and then comes the "Goshhhhh", "Damnnn" or "I knew that but didn't put it".

That's the purpose.

We are having a couple of themed rounds of Indian Defense as wel, there's strangely a great lack of Indian Defense History quizzing, I believe we must know about the continuous sacrifices and work put in by the people working for the security of the country, no matter what politicians do. And placing it right on the first day of Valentine's week is a good coincidence for that as a lot of people tend to forget that there's more to 14 Feb than just the things swinging around the virgin tree.

How I do quizzes (as is the saying, know your Quiz Master)

Just pick up something that's meaningful and start reading, no matter what, where and which. For themed quizzes like these, read trivia/encyclopedias randomly, watch videos or reels of science communicators or just go to the Indian Armed Forces websites and jump to the history sections. Yes, questions in a quiz are random, and they are meant to be so, otherwise what's an exam paper then? But that randomness brings the joy of learning new things and discovering things you had never imagined could connect - like you might know Jamsetji Tata as a businessman, but he was also the founder of ISc Bangalore or that Vikram Sarabhai's love affair eventualy led to the founding of IM Ahmedabad. (Business and Science?) So, is the case for every other subject with every other subject, "Ekam Sat" (read Indian Philosophy!)

Join me for your first . At Sushila Devi Auditorium, Hindu College located in University Enclave . around 12 PM on a Saturday - the 7th of February. Cum to the quiz before you come (St. Valentine was beheaded). We are inviting al the freshers and freshers in quizzing and more girl participants along with the boys.

P.S.: (posted) post-event.

Prakash Sahu

Research Head