Live Stream and Video Recordings of the Seminar Sessions - Click here

Theme and Sub-themes of the Seminar

Introductory Video:

Introduction to the Concept of the Seminar on Science and Literature: Stimulative or Antagonist

Guidelines for Poster PresentationClick here to read guidelines and see the sample of posters

Plenary Speakers:

Paper / Poster Presentation Schedule

National Seminar on

Science and Literature

Stimulant or Antagonist?

Organised by:

Department of Chemistry & Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar

Date: 6 & 7 March 2026

Venue: New Court Hall & Dept. of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavangar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Download Seminar Brochure

Live Stream and Video Recordings of the Seminar Sessions - Click here

The Interdisciplinary NationalSeminar on Science & Literature seeks to explore the dynamic and evolving relationship between scientific thought and literary expression. Science and literature, often perceived as distinct modes of knowledge production, have long intersected in their shared efforts to understand, represent, and question the world. From literary engagements with scientific discovery to narrative, poetic, and speculative responses to technological change, literature has consistently acted as a space where scientific ideas are interpreted, contested, and humanised.

This seminar invites students, scholars, teachers and academic stakeholders to examine how scientific paradigms, methods, and metaphors inform literary texts and how literature, in turn, shapes cultural perceptions of science. Particular attention may be given to interdisciplinary frameworks that bridge the humanities and sciences, including science fiction, medical humanities, environmental humanities, digital humanities, and posthumanist thought.

By fostering dialogue across disciplines, the seminar aims to encourage critical reflection on the ethical, philosophical, and cultural implications of scientific knowledge as mediated through literature and to promote collaborative approaches to research and pedagogy in an increasingly interconnected intellectual landscape.
Read more..... click here

Registration Guidelines

U.G./P.G. students, Ph.D. research scholars, and professionals associated with MKBU are not required to pay the registration fees. For others, the details will be as follows:
Registration Fees (for attendance): INR 100
Registration Fees (for paper presentation): INR 200
Registration fees are to be paid before submitting the registration form.
Candidates are requested to provide valid transaction proof of the payment with the registration form.
The procedure and details of registration, as well as the amount of the registration fees, will remain the same whether participants choose to participate in online or offline mode
Last date for Registration and Abstract Submission: 2nd March 2026
Full paper submissions aren't required for the submission of the registration form. However, the participant must bring the complete copy (in PDF, document, ppt or any other format convenient to the presenter) with them for the presentation.
We may request a complete research paper submission if we go for conference proceedings publication in the future.
The best research paper award will be identified before the valedictory session, and the participant will be felicitated with a certificate.
Certificates of Participation will be awarded to all participants. Participants joining us online will receive e-certificates via their registered email address.

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/bhPHkJX4d4XNdfsy8

Payment Details

Bank name: Union Bank of India

Account Name: M/S Head Chemistry Department

Account Number: 520101264448492

IFSC: UBIN0903248

Branch Name: Aksharwadi Branch, Eva – Surbhi, Ground Floor, Opp. Aksharwadi Temple, Bhavnagar-364002

Theme and Sub-themes of the Seminar

Click here to read about sub-themes

Introductory Video:

Introduction to the Concept of the Seminar on Science and Literature: Stimulative or Antagonist

Guidelines for Poster Presentation
Click here to read guidelines and see the sample of posters

Plenary Speakers:

Prof. Neera Raghav, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Remapping Reality: Intertwined Dynamics in Science and Literature – 6 March 2026

Abstract:

Science and literature are often seen as separate domains: One rooted in experiments and evidence, the other in imagination and storytelling. However, on intersection, they transform our way to understand reality. In this presentation, the focus will be on facts based studies where scientific ideas have been directly correlated with the literature, how science can complement the literary information. There is a need to explore how scientific ideas inspire new literary forms, and how literature, in turn, provides science with metaphors and narratives that shape discovery. Together, they weave a dialogue that remaps our perception of the world.

We’ll look at examples where scientific revolutions sparked literary responses, and its need as a part of holistic education required for the next generation as per the NEP 2020. Literary imagination opened fresh ways of thinking about science. The aim is not only to highlight connections between these disciplines but also to invite reflection on how both can enrich our cultural and intellectual horizons. The talk will be a conversation about curiosity, creativity, and the shared human drive to make the true sense of existence.

Prof. M. N. Jivani, Professor, Department of Electronics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat

From Neurons to Narratives: How Language Binds Science, AI, and Literature - 6 March 2026

Abstract:

The title suggests a journey of language—from its origin in the human brain to its expression in stories and literature. Neurons represent the scientific foundation of language, where thoughts, memories, and meanings are formed through brain activity. Narratives represent the literary side of language, where these thoughts and meanings are shaped into stories, emotions, and cultural expressions that define human experience.

Between neurons and narratives lies Artificial Intelligence, which attempts to model language using data and algorithms. Language thus becomes the connecting bridge: science explains how language emerges, AI explores how it can be recreated, and literature shows why it matters. The title highlights language as the central force that links scientific understanding, technological innovation, and literary creativity.

Prof. Pragnesh N. Dave, Professor, Department Chemistry, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat - 7 March 2026

AbstractScience fiction represents a vibrant and generative interface between scientific imagination and literary creativity. Rather than constituting antagonistic domains, science and literature function as mutually stimulating forces that continuously expand human understanding and drive technological innovation. Visionary fiction, in particular, operates as a conceptual laboratory where speculative ideas anticipate scientific progress while simultaneously interrogating the ethical, philosophical, and societal consequences of technological change.Early narratives established science fiction as a literature of ideas deeply rooted in scientific inquiry. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) interrogated the ethics of scientific ambition and the responsibility of the creator, foreshadowing contemporary debates in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Jules Verne’s visionary imagination anticipated submarines, heavier-than-air aviation, and space travel with remarkable prescience, while H. G. Wells explored atomic energy and societal transformation in works that projected both technological possibility and its destabilizing potential (Wells, 1914).Modern science fiction has continued to shape scientific culture, public imagination, and policy discourse. Isaac Asimov’s explorations of robotics and artificial intelligence introduced the foundational concept of the Three Laws of Robotics, which continue to inform contemporary AI ethics frameworks (Asimov, 1983). Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (1953) remains a prescient meditation on censorship, media saturation, and intellectual freedom — themes of renewed urgency in the digital age. Contemporary media further demonstrates this creative feedback loop: gesture-based interfaces depicted in Minority Report, communicators in Star Trek, and machine intelligence in 2001: A Space Odyssey directly prefigured touchscreen technology, mobile communication devices, and intelligent virtual assistants.Visionary fiction also stimulates interdisciplinary thinking by synthesizing knowledge from physics, biology, sociology, and philosophy into coherent speculative worlds. This integrative approach fosters systems thinking and promotes anticipatory governance — the capacity to reason about future challenges before they materialize. The concept of cyberspace, introduced by William Gibson in Neuromancer (1984), anticipated the digital ecosystems, platform economies, and information networks that now fundamentally shape global communication and knowledge exchange.This presentation argues that visionary fiction functions as a catalyst for innovation, scientific literacy, and ethical reflection. It motivates intellectual curiosity, inspires technological creativity, and equips society to confront emerging challenges including artificial intelligence, climate change, and advances in biotechnology. Far from being antagonistic, science and literature operate synergistically: science furnishes the tools and empirical foundations for discovery, while literature provides meaning, moral direction, and the imaginative foresight necessary to navigate an uncertain future.Recognizing and cultivating this symbiotic relationship is of profound importance for educators, researchers, and policymakers who seek to develop scientific temper, creative thinking, and a culture of responsible innovation in the twenty-first century. The integration of literary and humanistic perspectives within science education and research policy can enrich both domains, ultimately rendering science more humane and literature more scientifically informed.

Aaron George, Assistant Professor, CHRIST (Deemed to be) University, Pune Lavasa Campus, Maharashtra - 7 March 2026

Abstract

The New Weird literary movement is characterized by its focus on recontextualizing supernatural elements within the contemporary setting, demonstrating how mythologies can fascinate even in an age definied by science and reason. Remedy Entertainment's video game, Control, draws inspiration from the New Weird movement to construct a game universe that challenges conventional storytelling norms. Through the interactive medium of gaming, players are empowered to shape the course of the narrative through their choices, thus becoming integral participants in the storytelling process. This study aims to explore the narrative structure of Control and analyze how it employs the New Weird aesthetic to create an immersive experience akin to a modern digital mythos. By examining the game's narrative techniques and thematic elements, the paper aims to provide insight into how the New Weird genre is adapted within the realm of interactive entertainment to evoke a sense of contemporary mythmaking.

Dr. Deepak Mashru, Assistant Professor, National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Forensic Linguistics in Literature and Science - 7 March 2026

Abstract

Forensic Linguistics in Literature and Science explores the evolving dialogue

between textual interpretation and scientific investigation. Traditionally

rooted in literary stylistics, discourse analysis, and rhetoric, the study of

language has moved beyond aesthetic appreciation into the realm of

empirical validation and evidentiary scrutiny. This paper examines how

analytical tools once confined to literary criticism now function as scientific

instruments in criminal and civil investigations. Concepts such as idiolect,

narrative structure, lexical patterning, and pragmatic intent are

recontextualized within forensic frameworks to determine authorship,

detect deception, interpret legal meaning, and evaluate disputed

communication. Drawing upon landmark case analyses and advances in

corpus linguistics, stylometry, and forensic phonetics, the discussion

demonstrates how linguistic patterns operate as measurable evidence rather

than subjective impressions. The session highlights the methodological rigor,

admissibility standards, and interdisciplinary significance of forensic

linguistics, positioning it as a bridge discipline that unites literature, law, and

science in the pursuit of truth.

Paper / Poster Presentation Schedule

Online Paper Presentation Schedule - Click here

Offline Paper Presentation Schedule - Click here

Print Poster Presentation Schedule - Click here

Digital Poster Presentation Schedule - Click here

List of Participants (without presentation) - Click here

National Seminar on

Science and Literature

Stimulant or Antagonist?

Organised by:

Department of Chemistry & Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar

Date: 6 & 7 March 2026

Live Stream and Video Recordings of the Seminar Sessions - Click here

📸Photo Album of the Seminar🖼️

Concept Note

Registration Guidelines

Theme and Sub-themes of the Seminar

Introductory Video:

Introduction to the Concept of the Seminar on Science and Literature: Stimulative or Antagonist

Guidelines for Poster Presentation
Click here to read guidelines and see the sample of posters

Plenary Speakers:

Paper / Poster Presentation Schedule