Piya Sorcar
Sorcar at Stanford University in 2015
Born1977 (age 45–46)
Colorado, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Colorado (BA, BS, BS)
Stanford University (MA, PhD)
Occupation(s)Founder & CEO, TeachAids
Lecturer, Stanford University
SpouseShuman Ghosemajumder
Parent(s)Manick Sorcar, Shikha Sorcar

Piya Sorcar (born 1977) is an American social entrepreneur and researcher.[1] She is the founder and CEO of TeachAids, and a lecturer at Stanford University.[2][3]

Background

Sorcar was born in Colorado, the eldest daughter of artist and engineer Manick Sorcar and Shikha Sorcar, and the granddaughter of the pre-eminent magician P. C. Sorcar and Basanti Devi.[4] As a child actor, she was nominated for a regional Emmy Award for her performance in the short film Deepa & Rupa: A Fairy Tale from India, directed by her father,[5][6] which went on to win at the Chicago International Film Festival.[7]

Career

She began the development of TeachAids at Stanford University, where it was the focus of her doctoral research.[8] In 2009, she founded it as a nonprofit partnered with the university,[9] working with a team of interdisciplinary experts for five years. Her research efforts developed a new approach to large-scale public HIV education which overcame taboos to vastly improve learning and usage rates.

Sorcar in conversation with the Dalai Lama in 2015

The approach Sorcar created included combining 2D cartoon images (balancing clarity with comfort), a research-based translation and back-translation process, mnemonic devices, and voices of regionally-specific cultural icons, among other inventions.[10]

She has led TeachAids to produce many versions of its interactive HIV prevention software,[11] which are now used in more than 80 countries.[3][12] Her work has included directing Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Shruti Haasan, and Nagarjuna.[13][14]

Sorcar with President of Botswana, Festus Mogae launching TeachAids in Botswana in 2010

In 2018, she led the creation of a second TeachAids initiative for concussion education called CrashCourse, using a new pedagogical approach based on virtual reality,[15] and supported by Steve Young, Dick Gould, Jim Plunkett, Katie Ledecky, and other prominent sports figures.[16] The initiative partnered with 23 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Sports Governing Bodies.[17] Demonstrating high efficacy levels through research conducted at Harvard University and Stanford, CrashCourse was used globally, particularly in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.[18]

In 2011, MIT Technology Review named Sorcar to their TR35 list of the top 35 most innovative people in the world under 35.[1] In 2012, she and TeachAids were named one of twelve global laureates of The Tech Awards.[19] In 2022, she received the Public Service Award from the Association of Academic Physiatrists, joining past winners such as Christopher Reeve.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 Naone, Erica (2011-09-01). "Top 35 Innovators in the World: Dr. Piya Sorcar". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  2. ↑ "EDUC 335X: Designing Research-Based Interventions to Solve Global Health Problems". Stanford University Course Catalog. 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  3. 1 2 Sherwood, Christina Hernandez (2013-01-14). "Q&A: Piya Sorcar, founder and CEO of TeachAIDS". ZDNet. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  4. ↑ "Suriya, Anushka support AIDS awareness campaign". The New Indian Express. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  5. ↑ "1991 Emmy Nominees". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 1991-09-01. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  6. ↑ "Deepa & Rupa: A Fairy Tale from India: Full Cast & Crew". Internet Movie Database. 1991-09-01. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Video Reviews: Deepa & Rupa". Hinduism Today. 1994-11-15. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  8. ↑ Kamenetz, Anya (2013-04-10). "Research finally shows that online education works — for sex, alcohol and health". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  9. ↑ McClure, Max (2012-07-25). "Stanford-affiliated nonprofit sets standard for AIDS education". Stanford News. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  10. ↑ "Piya Sorcar: Celebrities, Taboos and TeachAIDS".
  11. ↑ Irani, Mahafreed (2011-09-24). "Moving pictures, moving minds". The Times of India. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  12. ↑ "Animated course on HIV education in Odia to be launched". The Telegraph. 2014-11-21. Archived from the original on November 25, 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  13. ↑ Tsering, Lisa (2014-12-05). "Amitabh Bachchan Joins S.F. Bay Area Nonprofit TeachAIDS". India West. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  14. ↑ Naig, Udhave (2013-11-26). "Animated teaching". The Hindu. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  15. ↑ Melnick), Former Writer (Kyle (2018-09-06). "TeachAids & Stanford University Debut VR Concussion Education Program". VRScout. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  16. ↑ Frye, Andy. "Raiders Legend Jim Plunkett Wants To End Concussion Stigma Through Education". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  17. ↑ "USA Football Launches Enhanced, Nationally Accredited Youth Coach Certification Benefiting Young Players". www.sportsdestinations.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  18. ↑ "Stanford-Harvard Study Shows Student Athletes Increased Intent to Report Concussions After TeachAids CrashCourse Education". Healthcare Dive. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  19. ↑ "2012 Global Laureate Profile: TeachAIDS". The Tech Awards. 2012-10-15. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  20. ↑ "This Year's Award Winners - Association of Academic Physiatrists". www.physiatry.org. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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