When science meets art, the outcome could want to make you say OMG!
A few years ago, when Dr. Balaram Khamari brought his love for art into the BioScience lab at SSSIHL, he discovered a new form of expression through a recently popular unusual art form called ‘Agar art‘.
Fascinated with his unusual yet amazing talent, the History TV18 channel has now featured Dr. Balaram and his work on their popular show OMG! Yeh Mera India, which showcases stories of Indians with extraordinary and unique talents. Balaram was featured in episode 7, season 8 of the show that was aired on 7 March 2022.
A student of BioScience from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Balaram completed his B.Sc. (Hons) in 2014 and his M.Sc. with a Gold medal in 2016. He later went on to complete his Ph.D. in 2021 under the supervision of Dr. B.E. Pradeep, Associate Professor, Department of Biosciences, Prasanthi Nilayam campus and is currently the Project Coordinator in a BIRAC funded project, AMR Laboratory, Department of Biosciences at the Prasanthi Nilayam campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.
In 2020, Dr. Balaram received 2nd place in the annual Agar art contest organised by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for his work ‘Microbial Peacock’.
What is Agar art?
Agar is a jelly-like substance made from seaweed. When used as a medium to grow or culture micro-organisms (bacteria, yeast, fungi, or protists) into specific patterns/forms, it is called Agar art and those practicing are known as Agar artists.
Chosen for their colors, the microbes arranged on the Agar plate (canvas) lend their color to the intricate pattern/design as they grow, creating stunning visuals/pictures
View video: https://youtu.be/TwDmi57zCG0
We congratulate Dr.Balaram Khamari for his achievements and for making us proud and wish him many more in the future.
