Science Saturday: The Human Machine at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute in March 2026

Science Saturday: The Human Machine at  Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute in March 2026

On March 28, 2026, I presented work on hand gestures (hastas), language, and hand evolution, and brain evolution as part of Science Saturday: The Human Machine at Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute.
While my experience was unlike that at Mt. Sinai and Allerton NYPL, where I presented similar work, I still learned a bit about question-based pedagogy and group facilitation techniques.
Some images of the dance below (PC: Julia Martocchio) 

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On the theme of hands and what hands do, I worked with three volunteers to help young students make finger puppets and trace their hands. 

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I also made connections between dog paws and human hands, and talked about the role of the thumb in grasping objects and making tools by using my pup Jessie as an example (video of her digging and catching a ball with her mouth, and picture of her dewclaw below): 

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Testimonials 

One of the volunteers had this to say about my presentation:
"Sloka offered a true blend of art, science, and culture! Her presentation felt intentional and family-friendly, connecting Bharatanatyam, communication through hand gestures, and the evolution of the hand and brain. Sloka's ability to weave these threads into one clear, linear story was most impressive. It was creative, authentic, and rooted in her deep knowledge and experience. It was great to see children and caregivers learning hand gestures, creating collaborative art with their favorite one, dancing with origami finger puppets, and asking questions. Thank you, Sloka, for sharing your beautiful dance and knowledge with us!"

One of the participants had this to say: 
"I thought your eyes were a kind of gesture!"