Meet our Speakers

Dr. L. S. Shashidhara is the Director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, and a distinguished developmental biologist whose work bridges genetics, evolution, and cancer biology. His research group uses Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study how organs achieve their correct size, shape, and position during development, and how these conserved pathways are altered in human epithelial cancers, providing insights into the molecular basis of disease progression. Before joining NCBS, Dr. Shashidhara was a founding faculty member at IISER Pune, where he played a major role in shaping its academic and research vision. He has also been instrumental in national science initiatives such as the Pune Knowledge Cluster and the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas, fostering collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and policymakers. Deeply dedicated to science education and outreach, he actively promotes inquiry-based learning and interdisciplinary research, integrating biology with public health, environment, and technology to build a more inclusive and innovative scientific community in India.

Annie Namala is a prominent Indian social activist and policy advocate known for her pioneering work in promoting Dalit rights, inclusive education, and social equity. With a postgraduate degree in Social Work, she has spent decades bridging grassroots activism with national policy reform. She is the founding director of the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI), where she empowers Dalit, Adivasi, and Muslim youth to lead change in their communities. Annie served on India’s National Advisory Council, contributing to the implementation of the Right to Education Act with a focus on equity and non-discrimination. From 2019-23, she served as the National Convener of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA), a civil society coalition that monitors government accountability on social justice and the Sustainable Development Goals. She is part of the Expert Group of the UN Collaborative on Citizen Data, promoting the production and use of citizen data to fill critical data gaps for marginalised communities to make their voices heard and counted in policy and provisions. She developed the 100 Hotspots: Socially excluded communities and SDGs in India to highlight the challenges of marginalised communities in achieving the SDGs. Her work is characterized by a profound commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and creating participatory platforms that challenge systemic exclusion.

Captain Suresh Babu is an officer in the Indian Navy, holding a multitude of Special Forces qualifications, including deep-sea diving and Marine Commando Specialization, obtained over an illustrious career spanning 34 years. He has been involved in pivotal roles in Special Operations and in formulating and executing actions in anti-terrorism efforts following the 26/11 attacks, as well as in anti-piracy efforts following the piracy activities in the Gulf region. These experiences led him to command a MARCOS unit, as well as Peacekeeping missions in Somalia and Sri Lanka. In addition to these incredible achievements, Captain Suresh Babu has also been actively involved in developing infrastructure and resources for MARCOS, Diving and NCC units and holds two Limca Book of Records in Skydiving. He is a self proclaimed Peace loving Marine Commando.

Dr. Suvrat Raju is a renowned theoretical physicist and distinguished researcher in quantum gravity and fundamental physics, currently working with ICTS-TIFR, Bengaluru, India. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from St. Stephen’s College and a Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University, with a specialization in quantum field theory and black hole information paradoxes. Dr. Raju’s research focuses on advancing our understanding of spacetime, holography, and the quantum structure of gravity, making significant contributions to the foundations of modern theoretical physics. With over 15 years of research experience, he has published influential works that have shaped global discourse in high-energy theory and quantum information. A recipient of several prestigious honors, and a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Raju is also an active voice in promoting scientific integrity, open inquiry, and public understanding of science. His work continues to deepen the world’s grasp of the universe’s most profound physical principles.

Dr. R. Natarajan, Indian Revenue Service, is a distinguished civil servant, academician, and former national record holder and National sprint champion for 9 consecutive years , currently serving as Deputy Commissioner at the Directorate General of Performance Management, Chennai. He holds degrees in Pharmacy and Sociology from Annamalai University, an M.Sc. in Yoga from the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, and a Ph.D. in Track and Field Athletics, as the fIndian Revenue Servicet Indian athlete to earn a doctorate in the discipline & only one till date. A nine-time national champion and record holder in the 100m and 200m events, Dr. Natarajan represented India in multiple international competitions, South Asias Fastest Man , Seeded Number 3 in Asia , Qualified to run the 200 mtrs at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics . His pioneering work bridges the fields of sports science, yoga, and public administration, promoting performance excellence and holistic development. His career stands as a testament to dedication, discipline, and the harmonious blending of athletic and civil service achievement.

Karthik Raghavendran is a distinguished scientist and global innovator in neurotechnology and artificial intelligence, currently serving as the Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer at Neurostellar, a leading organization at the intersection of neuroscience and AI. He is an entrepreneur,author and a public speaker. At Neurostellar, he leads pioneering work in neural interface systems, building technologies to push the frontiers of Human cognition. Karthik has been instrumental in shaping the integration of neuro-AI for health, cognition, and human enhancement. His innovations have earned him international recognition for scientific leadership and contributions to the responsible evolution of neurotechnology worldwide.