Applied Physics

Apoorva Jayaraman is a performer and teacher in the Indian art of Bharatanatyam, a stylized form of dance and movement that has its roots in ancient Hindu religious texts. She dances and choreographs Bharatanatyam shows in several countries, and organizes workshops on the art. Currently she's taking a look at how this and other classical Indian arts are not only entertainment or artistic expression, but might actually help Indian society and culture build knowledge of the world.

She also holds a PhD in astronomy from the University of Cambridge in England and a masters degree in Physics from Trinity College at Oxford. Her thesis explored how galaxies form, and she had articles in several different scientific journals during her academic career.

The interview at Physics World doesn't really dig too deeply into how physics or astronomy intersect with Bharatanatyam, which sounds to me like one of the more interesting parts of her work. Some Bharatanatyam dances connect with Hindu creation myths and it would be fascinating to hear someone with cutting-edge astronomical training reflect on where the two would overlap or possibly have friction. It could also be interesting to hear how some of her understanding of the elements of physics, such as motion, balance, body position and others, affects how she moves when she dances. About the only place where the conversation touches on those matters is when Jayaraman explains that her training as a scientists helps her be aware of what she does not know, in addition to what she does know.

Physics World suggests in its headline that even though Jayaraman's professional life followed the path of Bharatanatyam performance and instruction, she's still a scientist in many ways. When I read how she compared the stability of income as an artist to that of an astronomy professor -- "This has obvious repercussions on its financial viability as a career choice." -- I knew that Dr. Jayaraman indeed remained a scientist.