Monthly Report – July 2025
Name: M S Sailekshmi
Affiliation: CUBE (Collaboratively Understanding Biology Education), Kishore Bharati
Month Covered: July 1 to July 31, 2025
Submitted on: 3 August 2025
1. Participation in Daily CUBE ChatShaala
Throughout July 2025, I was a regular and active participant in the daily CUBE ChatShaala. My engagement went beyond attendance:
I helped coordinate the sessions, especially in managing discussions, whiteboard note-taking, and question framing.
I ensured continuity of conversations by summarizing ongoing experimental results and follow-ups.
After each session, I posted whiteboard-based summaries and follow-up queries in the Context2Curriculum WhatsApp group to inspire further engagement.
I made sure all posts were provocative yet student-friendly, encouraging peers of all levels to participate in scientific discourse.
2. Experimental Work & Scientific Contributions
A. Curd Formation Experiment
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of lemon juice vs. curd in starting curd formation.
Setup:
Set A: 150 ml milk + 1 tbsp lemon
Set B: 150 ml milk + 1 tbsp curd
Observation:
Result (13–14 July):
Container A (Lemon): Shows partial curdling with clear whey separation and a yellowish layer at the bottom.
Container B (Curd): Shows uniform curdling, no prominent whey separation, smoother texture.
Interpretation:
Set A showed significant sprouting, raising questions about whether lemon alone can act as a starter through acid coagulation, and if microbial action is necessary for future cultures.
I shared results with photos, interpretation, and a provocative question:
“Can lemon act as a long-term curd starter like lactic acid bacteria do?”
B. Butterfly Garden Observation
Date: Multiple dates in July (esp. 28th & 29th)
Location: S.N. College, Chempazhanthy, Trivandrum, Kerala.
Observation:
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Documented presence/absence of butterflies at various times.
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Shared images and reflected on what qualifies a site to be termed a “Butterfly Garden.”
Insight:
Maximum butterfly activity noticed post 10 AM, possibly due to light and temperature conditions.
3. Whiteboard-Based Reflections and Follow-Up Queries
After each ChatShaala session, I consistently contributed:
Catchy titles and questions based on the whiteboard summaries, e.g.:
“Is lemon just acid, or does it ‘learn’ to curd?”
“What makes a butterfly garden more than just a garden?”
Inspired others by tagging participants and drawing attention to gaps and new possibilities.
4. TINKE Moments (This I Never Knew Earlier)
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Realized that curd formation is not merely about pH, but involves living microbial cultures for sustainability.
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Learned how milk proteins like casein precipitate at their isoelectric point due to acid.
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Discovered that butterfly activity has strong environmental cues (time, nectar source, sunlight).
Noted that citizen science is valid science—simple experiments can raise deep biological questions.
5. Personal Reflections & Learning
My scientific thinking has evolved—from doing experiments to framing questions that lead to more questions.
I grew more confident in coordinating group discussions, especially by translating complex science into accessible language.
The ChatShaala space gave me the ability to connect observations to theory, linking daily experiences (like making curd) with biochemical principles.
I gained skill in writing for multiple audiences—from scientific to general public—using whiteboard summaries and daily reflections.
6. Goals for August 2025
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Start a new project on observing butterflies at home or college and finding their host plants.
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Mentor at least two new participants to present in ChatShaala.
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Strengthen the ChatShaala whiteboard archives by structuring and categorizing summaries for future reference.
7. Final Remarks
This month, I was not just a participant but a bridge between experiments and collaborative learning. I hope my model of participation—centered on curiosity, consistency, and coordination—can inspire other CUBists to take initiative and treat science as a shared, living process.
Respectfully submitted,
M S Sailekshmi
Active Participant & ChatShaala Coordinator