Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty is an engaging presenter; he builds his presentations on solid science and vast knowledge of his field intertwined with fascinating insights, historical perspective, and a touch of humor. He can relate to students starting out in any science field, small children curious about the world, and anyone with a sense of wonder and curiosity. He shares his passion and enthusiasm for science with his audience, which inevitably is left with a new understanding of our world and often with more questions to consider. 

A scientist, an author, an explorer, and an educator, Dr Prosanta Chakrabarty’s inspirational presentations will change the way you think about science and scientists and will ignite your curiosity about the world around you. 

Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty is available as a Keynote, Darwin Day, or Graduation speaker. He is also available to speak about STEM, Diversity, Academia and Collaboration in science. Feel free to ask about his workshops, Dr. Chakrabarty always tailors his talks and workshops to the specific audience he works with.

In 2025, Dr. Chakrabarty was named a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, if your institution has a chapter you can request him or other speakers here  https://pbkvisitingscholars.wufoo.com/forms/zcj0xme0fv2wcf/

Experience

Dr. Chakrabarty has spoken at dozens of universities, museums, and other institutions. Below is a list of the some recent locations:

  • The National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian)

  • National Academies of Sciences, Keck Center

  • American Museum of Natural History (Ocean Luminaries)

  • Smithsonian National Zoo

  • National Science Foundation

  • Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras

  • Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research

  • National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

  • TED (2016, 2018), TEDxLSU (2015)

 

Watch Prosanta's TED Talks

FOUR BILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION IN SIX MINUTES

Did humans evolve from monkeys or from fish? In this enlightening talk, ichthyologist and TED Fellow Prosanta Chakrabarty dispels some hardwired myths about evolution, encouraging us to remember that we're a small part of a complex, four-billion-year process, not the end of the line. "We're not the goal of evolution," Chakrabarty says.

WHAT CAN DNA TESTS TELL US?

Two sisters take the same DNA test. The results show that one sister is 10% French, the other 0%. Both sisters share the same two parents, and therefore the same set of ancestors. So how can one be 10% more French than the other?

PREHISTORY AS TOLD BY CAVEFISHES

TED Fellow Prosanta Chakrabarty explores hidden parts of the world in search of new species of cave-dwelling fish. These subterranean creatures have developed fascinating adaptations, and they provide biological insights into blindness as well as geological clues about how the continents broke apart million of years ago.

THE NEW NATURAL HISTORY

What if two different fish species, living thousands of miles apart from each other, hold the key to Earth's history? In this TEDx talk, evolutionary biologist and ichthyologist Prosanta Chakrabarty demonstrates the vitality of studies in nature, using 21st century tools to trace Earth's distant history, explain why it is the way it is today -- and theorize its potential futures.

THE BIG OCEAN MYTH

Ichthyologist Prosanta Chakrabarty makes the case that the oceans aren't as vast as we think. At the Museum's Ocean Luminaries event held on March 2, 2018, he discussed the threat of pollution and how museum collections hold promise for the future of the world's oceans.

PBS: Brief But Spectacular: Although Prosanta Chakrabarty grew up in Queens, he always loved nature. The wonder of the world's creatures inspired him to study biology, a field that illuminates which of Earth’s beings are related to one another -- an…

PBS: Brief But Spectacular

Although Prosanta Chakrabarty grew up in Queens, he always loved nature. The wonder of the world's creatures inspired him to study biology, a field that illuminates which of Earth’s beings are related to one another -- and how an event in a single location of this interconnected planet can cause global repercussions. Chakrabarty offers his brief but spectacular take on life on Earth.