DR VS RAMACHANDRAN
V.S. Ramachandran is a world-renowned behavioral neurologist and the bestselling author of books such as ‘Phantoms In The Brain’, and ‘The Tell-Tale Brain’. Called the “Marco Polo of neuroscience” by Richard Dawkins, he is Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and Distinguished Professor at the University of California, San Diego; and Adjunct Professor of Biology at the Salk Institute. He not only obtained a Ph.D. from Trinity College, Cambridge but is also a recipient of two honorary doctorates. He is particularly known for his work on phantom limbs, synesthesia, xenomelia, and his invention of the mirror box. In addition to clinical utility, his work on neural plasticity has strongly influenced the way we think about brain function.

LAKSHMI PRATURY
Lakshmi Pratury is a business leader, entrepreneur, curator, speaker, and former venture capitalist. Her riveting personality and penchant for technological innovation and community building have led her to her current avatar as founder and CEO of INK. INK is known for events like the INK Conference, INK Asia, INK Salons and impact-oriented programs like the INK Fellows and INK Makers. She holds MBAs from Portland State University and the Bajaj Institute, attended IIT Mumbai, and was a gold medalist in undergraduate mathematics at Osmania University, Hyderabad. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including being named “Inspirational Icon” at the Audi Ritz Icon Awards in 2015 and in the Forbes’ list of “Women to Watch in Asia”.

ANAND GANDHI
Anand Gandhi’s first feature film Ship of Theseus premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival ’12 and has won prizes at international film festivals across the globe. It was put on a list of 15 “life-changing” films by the Critics’ Circle, UK, and was presented with the National Award in 2014. He also co-wrote, creative directed, and executive produced the feature film ‘Tumbbad’. He produced the documentary feature ‘An Insignificant Man’ that won the Sundance Fund and was acquired by Vice Media. In 2013, Anand was awarded the ‘Contribution to Jain Philosophy prize’ by the Mumbai University. He is now closely working with Dr. Ramachandran and Dr. Olson at UCSD and NCBS respectively, where he is conducting cutting-edge research on consciousness and free will.

DR SHANNON OLSSON
All life on Earth interacts through the language of chemistry, and Professor Shannon Olsson is a chemical ecologist who listens to nature’s conversations across India’s diverse ecosystems. A Fulbright Scholar, Ramanujan and INK Fellow, Shannon’s research has been featured by TEDx, Syntalk, Sci-Illustrate, Dublin Science Gallery, V&A London, Chemical and Engineering News, and the DST Science Express train. Shannon is currently Global Director of the EChO Network, an international public-private social innovation partnership steered by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Inspired by nature’s communication, this Network is creating a new generation of Indians who can unite citizens, government, industry, academia, and NGOs to tackle problems in human and environmental ecosystems in a holistic manner through science-based communication.