IIT Gandhinagar Hosts Landmark Curiosity Conference 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) successfully organized the Curiosity Conference 2026 on March 21 and 22, creating a dynamic platform that brought together diverse fields to reimagine educational paradigms through the powerful lens of curiosity.
Theme: Intersection of Art, Science and Technology
Centered on the compelling theme "Intersection of art–sci–tech," the conference actively encouraged participants to reflect deeply on how curiosity fundamentally fosters flexible thinking, enhances creativity, and strengthens problem-solving capabilities, according to conference organizers.
Conference coordinators Dr. Jaison Manjaly and Argha Manna emphasized a crucial point during the proceedings: curiosity forms the essential foundation of any knowledge system and remains absolutely vital for achieving meaningful, transformative learning experiences.
Keynote Insights: Bridging Disciplines
Speakers throughout the event highlighted that while curiosity is deeply personal and subjective, it maintains universal importance across all academic and professional disciplines. In a particularly engaging keynote session, Sukant Saran, a physicist-turned-artist currently associated with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, explored the intricate relationship between science and art.
Saran presented these fields as complementary representations of reality that work together to expand human consciousness and perception. He demonstrated practically how complex scientific ideas—ranging from atomic structures to sophisticated space-time theories—can be powerfully expressed through various artistic forms, thereby sparking deeper intellectual engagement and sustained curiosity among learners.
Mathematics and Artistic Expression
Another keynote speaker, artist Arvind Sundar, delved into the fascinating connections between mathematics and artistic practice. His comprehensive presentation examined abstract concepts such as geometry and infinity through the lens of artistic creation, showcasing how mathematical ideas like the golden ratio, fractals, impossible structures, and origami principles can inspire compelling, visually stunning forms.
The conference successfully created a vibrant intellectual space where educators, researchers, artists, and technologists could collaborate and explore how curiosity-driven approaches can revolutionize learning methodologies across multiple domains.
