Dr.Charlotte Sleigh, the ant woman, as she is popularly known, a lecturer in the School of History at the University of Kent was in the city to address the British Council’s ‘Science and Beyond’ at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. On her first visit to the city, she speaks at length about the science scenario and its loopholes in India, despite having such tremendous talent hidden.
From researching about ants to writing about them, Charlotte has always chosen out-of-the- box topics of science. The topic she chose to speak at the seminar was ‘Electric monks and pathology biscuits’, which revolves around a French scientist, who was also a priest from the 18th century and his experiment with the jar with primitive batteries. The pathology biscuit experiment was by a student from the University of Kent.
Talking about the science scene in India, she says that scientists here have to interact with the public and speak about their research. “Scientists here face two challenges - poor funding and bureaucratic red tape. I am not surprised that less than 15% of women are scientists. On the positive side, there is huge talent hidden. Despite all the challenges and limitations, many researchers and their talents are evolving,” she says.
So what is her solution to the problem? “Scientists should get out of their labs and communicate about the experiments and create inquisitiveness among the younger lot to know more about science and its history.”
About the epithet she has earned, she says “Ants fascinate me. They are amazing beings. They have division of labour and leave a chemical scent behind, which helps the other ants follow them and also works like a computer. They are another proof of the beauty nature holds with in.”
She says science has always managed to excite her and from her childhood, she has been more keen to know the history and philosophy of science. She has also majored in the same.
According to her, values are part of science and its a wrong notion among people that science is a contrary to values, philosophy and history behind it. Charlotte had penned a book on ants and also a few books about her research. “I wanted to tell people what I have researched and nothing better than explaining it through a book. I have written six books and it was an amazing journey, while writing all the books.”