An introduction to Collaboratively Understanding Biology Education
CUBE stands for Collaboratively Understanding Biology Education, initiated in 2012 at HBCSE, TIFR (Arunan M.C.,2013) and focusing on collaborative and context-bound research activities through the Homelab movement.The program began with 18 students from four colleges, most of whom were in their first and second years of undergraduate studies. This was a five-week hands-on research experience based on simple model systems such as Daphnia, Drosophila, snails, earthworms, and crows. Operating on a no-selection criterion, the initial phase included these 18 students from four different colleges in Mumbai and its suburbs
(Collaborative Undergraduate Biology Research (CUBE) - IndiaBioscience)
Since 2015 CUBE works in collaboration between Kishore Bharati organization and HBCSE, TIFR, today the program has reached to about 2000 students, involving more than 50 colleges and several schools, and has developed CUBE Hubs at more than 100 locations across India
(CUBE – Kishore Bharati)
CUBE introduced a Homelab-based research activity, replacing sophisticated equipment with easily available household items. On March 20, 2020, CUBE started an online session called Chatshaala, which has continued after the lockdown. We have a list of participants and recordings of all Chatshaala sessions, marking the completion of four years on March 20, 2024.We have been celebrating CUBE National Meets annually, and we have introduced nearly 17 model systems based on observation-based collaborative learning. CUBE includes a diverse group of participants, ranging from upper primary students to research scholars, as well as teachers, scientists, and the general public. Regardless of age or background, we collaboratively exchange ideas and engage in homelab-based research activities.Finding gaps and misconceptions, celebrating goof-ups, and openly publishing moments like “This I Never Knew Earlier” (TINKE) and “This I Never Thought About” (TINTA) are unique aspects of CUBE.We have a platform called metastudio.org where Cubists publish their work and archive their data, and it is open for public discussion. Additionally, the CUBE WhatsApp group is active 24/7, serving as a platform where Cubists regularly share and discuss their research activities.We encounter challenges in areas such as microscopy, measurements, and understanding terms like arthropods, diffusion, and osmosis. A major problem we often face is a lack of perseverance in conducting research, but we celebrate these moments and learn from them.
To make this parallel education program more effective, we emphasise a multidisciplinary approach, involvement of people from different age groups including common citizens, and engagement of students in context-based research activities.
1st : Histogram represents the total number of participants joining CUBE chatShaala every month from January 2022 to June 2024. Also, the average number of participants joining in the year 2022 is around 100, approximately 50 in the year 2023 and around 70 in the year 2024.
Credit of making Histogram:Kiran ,Smiti,Dhanraj
CUBE insists on observation, curiosity, and perseverance through simple experiments, opening the attention of a wide range of audiences through CUBE WhatsApp, Telegram groups, and an open platform, metaStudio.org. We hold a session called Chatshaala every day, ranging from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, to discuss, understand, and improve research. Engaging in research and collaborating in research equally benefit CUBE.
We have developed an alternative media for culturing the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) called TRSV (Tomato, Rava, Sugar, Vinegar), which is replacing the conventional standard corn meal agar media in homelabs.Cubists collected water samples from a pond and identified a new species named Moina macrocopa jsk1 (Bhanushali et al.,2021)through collaborative research.Currently, we are involved in almost 17 model systems based on the interests of Cubists, learning and conducting science without haste or competition, and embracing the idea that the Homelab is the best environment for collaborative research.
CUBE Whatsapp group link:
CUBE metastudio.org link:
CUBE chat - ChatShaala
Articles related to CUBE:
https://www.kishorebharati.org/cube/
JOIN CUBE CHATSHAALA TODAY!
*Room Link 
https://webinar.hbcse.tifr.res.in/b/kir-qwu-8bc-2ur
Timings : 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm
There will be a discussion in the CHATSHAALA starting at 7.30 pm and going until 9.30 pm, which will then be followed in CUBE whatsapp groups.
We are looking forward to your participation.