We often imagine science as an exercise in precision—clearly labeled diagrams, exact measurements, and classifications that fit neatly into boxes. But anyone who has ever peered closely at the universe knows the truth: the picture of the world we have is neither complete nor fixed, even when viewed from the towering pillars of science. It is complex, approximate, and sometimes unfathomable. “We often forget this blurry, messy trait,” points out Aashima Dogra, co-founder and Editor of Labhopping Science Media forum, an independent science platform that was founded in 2016.
Titled “SCIENCE: Fuzzy, Messy, Awesome!”, the Labhopping 2026 Desktop Calendar embraces this beautiful complexity. It is a one-of-a-kind, boundary-busting, binary-breaking science-art collaboration that invites people to explore the grey zones of the scientific enterprise—those spaces where categories blur, definitions unravel, and curiosity thrives.
What makes a new species?
Is tar a solid or a liquid?
What, after all, is death?
Are viruses alive?
What time is it, really?
At the heart of this year’s calendar is the vibrant artwork of Ayan (ayanbythesea.com), a trans artist who has reimagined intricate scientific ideas in wonderfully zany yet deeply thoughtful ways. His illustrations infuse each month with colour, whimsy, and emotional intelligence—transforming abstract, messy scientific notions into layered visual stories that will keep you guessing through the month.
Through this unique science-art collaboration, the calendar encourages viewers to challenge assumptions, get comfortable with ambiguity, and rediscover the wonder in not having all the answers. “Each page on the Labhopping 2026 calendar highlights a scientific question, concept, or phenomenon that is associated with the theme of blurriness,” explains Nandita Jayaraj, also a co-founder and Editor at Labhopping. One side of each month on the calendar presents the layout of the month and the artwork, while on the reverse is a passage that describes the concept in simple and engaging language.
Labhopping’s award-winning team of editors have conceptualised the calendar and developed the text with the help of over a dozen Indian scientists, primarily women and trans, who are experts in various disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as education and sociology. “This exercise has been a very affirming reminder of the bedrock of everything we do: community,” says Sayantan Datta, an editor and core team member of Labhopping. “Over the past few months, many individuals have offered to help us with different aspects of the production process. It is truly taking a village, a heartwarming community of care, to bring it together.”
This calendar is part of an annual tradition that Labhopping kicked off in 2018. This time the focus has shifted from featuring individuals in the Indian science ecosystem, as the previous calendars have done, to science itself. Past collaborators include Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Chennai), DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, and Centre for Advanced Learning (Mangaluru). This year, the calendar is supported by Abhilasha Joshi, a neuroscientist, using her prize funds from the Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award.
All proceeds from the 2026 calendar sales will go toward producing new multimedia science content on TheLifeofScience.com in 2026, supporting independent, creative science storytelling for diverse audiences. The logistics and reselling of the calendar are executed by SciRio, a science branding and communication strategy company.
PROCURING THE LABHOPPING 2026 DESKTOP CALENDAR
- A limited number of copies have been printed and will soon be up for sale at Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0G1M8G2G3
- You can buy five or more copies of the calendar at a discount here: https://pages.razorpay.com/labhopping-desktop-calendar
ENDORSEMENTS FOR THE CALENDAR
“Celebrating the wonders of uncertainty, the Labhopping 2026 calendar is a beautiful reminder that science thrives in its grey zones, when curiosity meets creativity.”
– Gagandeep Kang, Public Health Researcher and Fellow of the Royal Society
“Kudos to the Labhopping team for putting together this thought-provoking calendar. The world is going through an interesting phase where questions are being raised about what is rational and logical, and what is irrational. A key feature of the scientific approach to analysing the world is to simplify, approximate and yet reach reasonable, valid conclusions that are altered if new facts demand so. Approximation—or fuzziness—does not mean vagueness or irrationality.”
– K VijayRaghavan, Former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
“Labhopping’s calendars are always special. Not often do we get the opportunity or platform to be introduced to and engage with important Indian scientific endeavours and the people behind them. The Labhopping team bridges and highlights this important gap, and their work has been helping reframe perspectives, highlight our biases and inform and change institutional policy. We are ordering our copies for all our team members and collaborators and we can’t wait to see the messy, blurry and fuzzy aspects of science that will be featured every month in 2026! Order your copies as well! They make wonderful and special gifts for adults and students and your contribution will help Labhopping continue their important work.”
– Vena Kapoor, Founder and Sr. Scientist, Nature Classrooms
ABOUT LABHOPPING
Lab Hopping Science Media Forum (aka TheLifeofScience.com) is a not-for-profit organisation focused on telling kickass and honest stories about science.
The project began as a blog site by two science writers, Aashima Dogra and Nandita Jayaraj, as they journaled biographies of women scientists they met while hopping across laboratories in India. This passion project, which has since pooled in many more voices asking for diversity and inclusivity in science, seeks to uncover stories from Indian science that remain hidden, and has evolved into a collective comprising a core team and a broadening network of science communicators, scientists, graduate students, journalists, artists, and multimedia content creators.
Labhopping’s independent science storytelling is driven by donations from the Indian science community via thelifeofscience.com/donate
FOR FURTHER QUERIES, CONTACT:
Nandita Jayaraj: nandita@thelifeofscience.com
Aashima Dogra: aashima@thelifeofscience.com
Sayantan Datta: sayantan@thelifeofscience.com
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