New TIFR illustrated book highlights gender equity and bias in science

Updated On: 21 November, 2025 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Trisha Ghosh

A new digital illustrated book by two faculty members from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) tackles themes of gender equity, impostor syndrome, and implicit bias, opening up dialogue on creating inclusive spaces in scientific study and beyond

Listen to this article :

The first sequence depicts a student assuming a woman in Professor Roy’s office is an assistant; she turns out to be the professor herself. image, Illustrations courtesy/HBCSE, TIFR

One of the best ways to deliver a serious message is to make it relatable for the audience. Recently, two faculty members — Professor Vandana Nanal and Dr Deepa Chari — from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Colaba and Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Anushakti Nagar, respectively, have published a digital, illustrated book, Tuning Mental Frameworks (HBCSE, TIFR), illustrated by Prasad B Desai. Published on October 30, it contains 15 sequences illustrated in comic book-style, depicting various scenarios that students and professors in the field of scientific studies, particularly physics, experience regularly, revealing subtle biases of gender discrimination, self-doubt, and wrongful assumptions often plaguing these spaces.

The scene showing a male colleague making assumptions based on gender, leading to embarrassment and negative social image