Discovery Dialogues Lecture Series

Professor Ani Deshpande, from Sanford Burnham Prebys, USA gave a compelling lecture on “How to Save a Billion Lives” on 13^th February 2026.

In a thought-provoking and story-driven presentation, Prof. Deshpande reflected on one of the most transformative periods in human history. He revisited a time when infections, injuries, and insufficiency frequently turned minor events into fatal outcomes, and traced the scientific breakthroughs, public health interventions, and sustained human ingenuity that reshaped global survival within a remarkably short span of time. The lecture brought attention to the often-unrecognized scientists whose collective contributions have saved more lives than any single human achievement.

The session prompted meaningful discussion among students and faculty, underscoring the profound societal impact of scientific discovery and the enduring importance of scientific literacy. This talk marked the first of a two-part Discovery Dialogues series focused on inspiring curiosity and broad engagement with science.