Without Water: Between Life and Death
In this lecture, biologist Shashi Thutupalli questioned our understanding of life and death. His lecture was based on his exhibit FrankenShrimp where dehydrated brine shrimp remain dormant until they are placed in water. Once in water, they begin their life processes. He spoke about how cells in living beings need to be in a liquid state to be active, highlighting the importance of water in life sustaining processes.
About the Biologist
Shashi Thutupalli is a Professor of biology at the National Centre for Biological Sciences. His research program aims for a broad understanding of the origins and organization of living systems. Thutupalli’s work is interdisciplinary combining experimental and theoretical techniques drawn from physics, engineering and biology.
Connected Exhibits and Programmes
FrankenShrimp by Shashi Thutupalli - an exhibit questioning the role of water in life and death
Water as we do not know it by Biman Bagchi - a public lecture examining the chemical properties of water