Anupam Manur
Assistant Professor, Takshashila Institution · Economist
Anupam is an Assistant Professor at the Takshashila Institution, previously a Research Associate at IIM Bangalore. His research sits at the intersection of economics, technology and public policy — platform economics, India's jobs crisis, digital payments and the New World Order.
More about Anupam
He is an Assistant Editor of the Indian Public Policy Review and has published editorials in the Hindustan Times, Mint, The Hindu, Bloomberg Quint and others. He teaches economic reasoning and macroeconomics across Takshashila's public policy programs.
Teaches Policy Paths: Unraveling Economics, Stats, and Policy
Nerdy facts
- · He loves trekking.
- · He loves coffee.
- · And he hates poor economic reasoning!
Muralidhar K
Senior mentor & course designer · BTech, IIT Madras · 20+ years in the social sector
Fondly called "Garu", Murali has facilitated GenWise courses for 5+ years across online and residential programs — Essence of Engineering, Engineering Design via Bicycles, Intuitive Electronics — at MAHE Manipal, IIIT Hyderabad and IITM Zanzibar.
More about Muralidhar
His courses emphasise making: hands-on design challenges that walk students into real engineering and design principles. Beyond teaching, his career spans vocational training, livelihood development in the handicraft sector, and a directorship at Fairkraft Creations.
Teaches Squishy Circuits
Nerdy facts
- · He once completed a 70km walk in a single day during the pandemic.
- · He enjoys exploring places on foot and by bicycle.
- · He likes nature and spends time around lakes, forests and hills.
R.D. Prabhu
PhD Astrophysics, IISc · ESD Compact Modeling lead, GlobalFoundries
A childhood book on rocketry set Prabhu on a lifelong path: Physics at St. Xavier's Calcutta, a Master's in Electronics at Osmania, a PhD in Astrophysics from IISc, and research roles across Singapore and the USA including a Research Professorship at the University of Vermont.
More about R.D.
He returned to India in 2007, worked in IBM's semiconductor research division, served as Dean of Sciences at Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, and now leads the Electrostatic Discharge Compact Modeling group at GlobalFoundries. His hands-on "Walk Like a Scientist" course is one of the most sought-after we run.
Teaches Two Feet of Science: Walk Like a Scientist
Nerdy facts
- · He loves potatoes. He'd do anything for a bag of chips and happily risk it all for a plate of fries!
- · He plays the drums purely by ear — beware, his rhythm may surprise you!
- · Spatio-temporal challenges are his thing — right/left and a.m./p.m. can get tricky!
Bhavin Shukla
Architect & design researcher · MSc, Bauhaus Dessau · PhD candidate, CEPT
Bhavin develops pedagogical tools for design education in India — he has taught design studios, history and theory at CEPT University, and runs The Design Toolbox with his partner, including design workshops for school children.
More about Bhavin
He holds a B.Arch from CEPT and an MSc in Design Research from Hochschule Anhalt & the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, has curated public exhibitions under the India Foundation for the Arts fellowship, and is pursuing a PhD in Design Pedagogy.
Teaches Blueprints & Beyond: Exploring Design & Architecture
Nerdy facts
- · An avid collector of everyday objects — stamps, postcards, vintage kitchen tools — fascinated by hidden stories in the ordinary.
- · When not decoding design, he wanders museums or plans his next cultural escape.
- · He travels cities and small towns alike with a keen eye for local aesthetics.
Prasanth Sistla
Educator · Maker · 15 years designing hands-on learning
Prasanth is an educator, maker and designer of learning experiences who enjoys exploring how the world works, and figuring things out by making things himself. With a background in biotechnology engineering and sociology, and 15 years in education, he has designed makerspaces, learning environments, curricula and hands-on programs that bring together science, design, craft, experimentation and philosophy.
More about Prasanth
He believes the best learning happens when Head, Heart and Hand come together: where curiosity, creativity and compassion meet the joy of making. He is interested in how hands-on learning helps us understand the world, build practical skills, relate meaningfully to others and engage more thoughtfully with the world around us.
Teaches Fling Theory: Engineer a Launcher That Hits Its Target
Nerdy facts
- · He plays the guitar and sings.
- · Contemporary dance, martial arts, biking, cycling and swimming: he does all of them.
- · He will make something just to see what happens.
Dr Jyothi V Nair
Science Enthusiast, Seed2Sapling Education · Behavioural Ecologist · PhD, NCBS-TIFR
Jyothi leads the science team at Seed2Sapling Education, where she designs curriculum and mentors teachers in inquiry-based and experiential learning. She has a PhD in Molecular and Chemical Ecology from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR). Her favourite ecosystem now is a curious classroom.
More about Jyothi
Nothing delights her more than a child asking "but why...?" Every class begins with a genuine question, and the answers are earned, never handed out. She writes science textbooks and biology modules, and is a Biology Olympiad resource person with the IAPT. She is a founding member of the Fireflies Asian Association (did you know firefly larvae are carnivores?), and lately she has been writing and translating children's books.
Teaches Forensic Science: Be the Investigator
Nerdy facts
- · She loves stories and sketches.
- · She loves noisy kids.
- · And she hates living in a city!
Berty Ashley
Senior Scientist, DART Bangalore · Quiz columnist, The Hindu · TEDx speaker
Berty is a molecular geneticist at the Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust (DART), a parent-run genetic research lab in Bangalore, where he works on antisense therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and counsels affected families.
More about Berty
He writes The Hindu's Sunday quiz column, consults on public engagement for Science Gallery Bengaluru and ICTS, and has given two TEDx talks on curiosity.
Teaches Inside the Helix: The Genetics Behind Medicine and Biotech
Nerdy facts
- · He plays bass, guitars, keys and drums, and his band turned the Periodic Table into a live show at Science Gallery Bengaluru.
- · His quiz column "Easy Like Sunday Morning" has run in The Hindu every week since 2017.
- · He was senior content editor on the Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam editions of Kaun Banega Crorepati, checking every fact that went on air.
Amit Deshwal
Founder, A Little Grove · IIT Madras graduate
Amit started A Little Grove, a democratic learning and living space for children, where he also teaches. An IIT Madras graduate, he began his career in private equity. About a year in, he realised his heart was elsewhere and chose to spend his life working with and learning from children.
More about Amit
Inspired by people like A.S. Neill, Tagore and the spaces he saw on his travels, Amit started exploring a more natural way of learning and living with children. At A Little Grove, children and teachers design their curriculum and timetable together, learn by cooperating and helping one another, and every child is welcome, whatever their financial, social or behavioural background.
Teaches Build It, Break It: Bridges, Pulleys and Floating Tables
Nerdy facts
- · He loves working with his hands: crafts, painting and woodwork.
- · He loves making and playing simple musical instruments.
- · And he believes we all need to learn to love again.
Ramgopal
Educator in alternative learning spaces for 18 years · Practising psychotherapist
Ramgopal has spent 18 years teaching in alternative learning spaces, building democratic classrooms where children and adults learn as whole people and look inward as they learn.
More about Ramgopal
He has trained in psychotherapy and now practises as a psychotherapist, working with children and young adults through theatre, music and group work.
Teaches The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: Puzzles, Patterns and Play (May)
Shiva
Professor, Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
An avid quizzer as a student, Shiva owes his career to a lucky visit to the aerospace labs in Bangalore as a high school student, which piqued his interest in computational modeling and simulation for engineering. He does research at the junction of engineering, physics and computation.
More about Shiva
He teaches Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and High Performance Scientific Computing at IIT Bombay, where he has been since 2012, when he returned from the USA after his doctoral and post-doctoral studies.
Teaches Code the Future: AI & Machine Learning Adventure
Nerdy facts
- · He loves maps, and can spend hours reading atlases, Google Maps and the like. He never uses GPS to navigate: he uses the sun and stars, apart from landmarks.
- · He loves trains, planes and ships. Cars too, but the former are better.
Sameer Mahajan
Independent AI adviser (Siemens Digital Industries Software) · B.Tech CS, IIT Bombay · MS CS, Georgia Tech · 9 US patents
Sameer is a software engineering leader and technology mentor with over 30 years of experience building and scaling software across India and the US. He works as an independent AI adviser to companies such as Siemens Digital Industries Software, and holds nine US patents.
More about Sameer
Passionate about making complex ideas accessible, he has been visiting faculty at engineering colleges and has run Python and AI workshops for high school students, introducing them to programming, machine learning and AI agents through hands-on projects. He has also made educational YouTube videos, published technical blogs, and designed and delivered AI/ML courses for GenWise's summer and online programs.
Sameer believes the best way to learn technology is to experiment, build something, and stay curious about how things work.
Teaches Code the Future: AI & Machine Learning Adventure
Deepak Gopalakrishnan
Marketing strategist · Co-founder, Rough Paper · MICA · Has taught at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Udaipur, FLAME and NMIMS
Deepak is a marketing strategist and has been teaching for close to 20 years. He co-founded Rough Paper, a marketing and content strategy studio that has worked with TCS, BookMyShow, IIT Madras, Spotify and several early-stage startups.
More about Deepak
He has taught digital marketing and content since 2012 at FLAME University, GIM Goa, TAPMI Manipal, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Udaipur, NMIMS Mumbai and Stoa, and ran his own online program for 400+ working professionals during the pandemic. Before Rough Paper he led digital strategy at Ogilvy and Leo Burnett and worked in marketing at OML Entertainment and PaytmInsider. He holds a post-graduate degree from MICA, Ahmedabad.
Teaches The Pitch Room: Invent It, Price It, Pitch It
