Sayantan Datta
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Sayantan Datta’s Biography
Read Full Bio →I am an award-winning queer-trans science journalist and children's book writer; generally, I write about science, gender, sexuality, caste and health.
Currently, I am an assistant professor at the Centre for Writing & Critical Pedagogy, Alliance School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University. I am also a contributing writer with queerbeat and a part of the multimedia science collective Labhopping Science Media Forum. Until recently, I was an assistant professor of practice at the Centre for Wri…
Sayantan Datta’s Journalist Portfolio
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Interview
See all 4 answers →What was your first job as a journalist?
Have you ever used a typewriter?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Awards
See all 15 awards →One World Media Awards (Shortlist)
2026 - Print
For a feature article published in print or online that covers a story or topic in the Global South. The Award recognises impact, exclusive content and/or new perspectives. Entries must be articles of 750 words or longer.
Parag Honour List
2024 - Children's Literature
The citation for this award reads: "Perhaps the first children’s book in India that chronicles a significant transgender public figure, Grace Banu. The engaging storyline, along with plentiful illustrations shape an interesting narrative, introducing children to a theme they may not have encountered often. Written by a queer-trans author, this is a significant representation in Indian CL. A great book to help children think about gender and caste realities."
Ashoka-SAGE Award for Critical Writing Pedagogies
2024 - Critical Writing Pedagogies
The citation for this award reads: "The first edition of the Sage-Ashoka Award for Critical Writing Pedagogies is conferred to Vivek Tewary and Sayantan Datta for their insightful paper ‘Form and Formula: Reflections on Teaching Technical & Journalistic Writing in Mathematics’. This was presented at the Critical Writing Pedagogies Symposium at Ashoka University on 6-7 April 2024, and was commended by the award panel for its deft and instructive account of the disciplinary differences between journalism and mathematics in relation to reading and writing practices. The panel comprised Aditi Sriram (Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar School of Law, Shiv Nadar University, Chennai); Anannya Dasgupta (Director, Centre for Writing and Pedagogy, and Associate Professor of Literature, Krea University, Sri City); Shilpa Phadke (Professor, School of Media and Cultural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai) and Krittika Bhattacharjee (Head of Programme and Assistant Professor, The Undergraduate Writing Programme, Ashoka University, Sonepat)."
Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity
2023 - Web Features (English)
The citation for this award reads: "Sayantan Datta's feature exposes the wide-ranging consequences of gender-segregated living arrangements in science institutions, including reinforcing biases, sexualising friendships and hindering scientific collaborations. The report's impact led to policy changes at the Indian Institute of Science and Education and Research (Mohali) towards more inclusive student housing. In recognition of their efforts to advance the conversation on inclusivity and advocate for the rights and well-being of transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary individuals on campus, Sayantan Datta is honoured with the Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2023."