Inclusivity
In a country as vast and varied as India, no one solution fits all. We quickly realized that to make our E. Solei project truly impactful, we needed to embrace the rich cultural, linguistic, and geographical diversity of the nation. As one team member aptly put it, “Understanding the unique challenges faced by different regions is not just important—it’s essential for designing solutions that work for everyone.” With this belief guiding us, we took deliberate steps to ensure our project was as inclusive and accessible as possible, reaching people across different states, languages, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Exploring the Terrain: Understanding Regional Challenges
Understanding that foot health varies across environments, we expanded our interviews to different states in India to capture regional challenges. These insights allowed us to tailor our solutions to the specific needs of each region.
- Kashmir: Where cold climates necessitate wearing shoes indoors for warmth, causing foot moisture issues.
- Kerala: Known for its humid climate and high incidence of fungal infections.
- Gujarat's Coastal Regions: Humidity and salt exposure impact foot health.
- West Bengal: Where corporate professionals wear formal shoes as part of their daily routine.
- Punjab: Focusing on athletes who push their feet to the limits.
Kashmir
Abdul Lateef, Lecturer, Age 50
"In Kashmir, we face extreme cold winters and humid monsoon seasons, requiring us to wear boots for 6-8 hours daily. These conditions often lead to recurring fungal infections, especially during the monsoon and frost seasons. The symptoms include discoloration between the toes, skin peeling, bad odors, itching, and a burning sensation. Though antifungal creams and powders are commonly used, the moisture-retaining woolen socks and fur shoes we wear for warmth increase the risk of infections."
Hashmit, Pharmacist, Age 22
"Kashmir’s cold climate, especially in the winter and monsoon seasons, leads to an increase in fungal infections. I wear shoes for about 5-7 hours a day, and I experience fungal infections 2-3 times a year, with symptoms like itching, redness, and inflammation. To treat this, I use antifungal creams like luliconazole, candid, and butenafine. Personal cleanliness, changing socks frequently, and using ointments help, but the infections are most common during the colder months."
Sartaj, Master's Student, Age 23
“In Kashmir, you can’t avoid wearing closed shoes, especially in the winter. It’s either boots or you risk getting frostbite or wet feet from the snow. But wearing them all day isn’t ideal for foot health either.Fungal infections aren’t something I deal with often, but I know many people around here who suffer, especially during the colder months when it’s harder to keep your feet dry.I use foot powder and creams regularly. And if the weather is warmer, I switch to more breathable shoes, but that’s not always possible here.The real challenge is managing moisture—whether it’s snow or rain, your feet are always at risk of getting damp, which can cause infections if you’re not careful.”
Tahir, Student, Age 24
"In Kashmir, the cold and rainy seasons make it necessary to wear closed shoes for 8-10 hours a day. I've had fungal infections 3-4 times, especially in the humid months of June and July. The infections cause itching, redness, and smelly feet. To manage this, I focus on hygiene, frequently change socks, and use antifungal powders like Candid. When it gets severe, I’ve even tried leech and cupping therapy. The challenge is keeping feet dry in such conditions, which isn’t always possible, especially in extreme winters and during rainy days."
Kerala
Abdul Rasheed, Airport Employee, Age 55
"I wear shoes for around 12 hours at the airport, and due to the climate in Kerala, I often experience foot infections. My dermatologist said it's likely caused by wearing wet socks. These types of fungal infections have become more frequent since the COVID outbreak. Although I’ve been using medication, the infection hasn’t fully cleared up, and I often forget to apply it regularly."
Soopy Haji, Farmer, Age 74
"The climate in Kerala is generally pleasant, with about six months of rainy season and six months of moderate summer. I usually wear slippers, but during farming, I often remove them. Foot infections are common, especially during the rainy season when my feet are exposed to muddy water and bacteria from fertilizers. I don’t usually seek medical treatment, instead relying on traditional remedies like liquid from burnt cashew nuts. Antifungal creams are not popular because they take too long to work."
Mohammed Salman, College student, Age 20
"Because of Kerala’s climate, I usually wear sandals, but shoes are mandatory for school. I wear them for about 6 hours daily. In 3rd grade, I had black patches on my feet, which were itchy and lasted for about a year before I sought treatment. I used red potassium crystals dissolved in warm water to soak my feet. It was effective but time-consuming. I experienced this more during the rainy season."
Fathima Bincy, Mentor, Age 27
"Kerala’s climate, with its six months of rain and six months of summer, makes wearing shoes uncomfortable for long periods. I usually wear sandals, especially during the rainy season, but I’ve experienced foot infections during my school days, particularly in the rainy months. The infections caused itching between my toes when I wore shoes. I had to frequently visit the doctor and use ointments, but maintaining foot health can be challenging, especially with the warm and wet conditions here."
Gujarat
Ashaben Pandya, Housewife, Age 44
"I've been dealing with a fungal infection for the last 10 years, and it gets much worse every winter. It's more manageable during the rainy season and decreases in summer. I get rashes, skin cuts, and peeling, and it feels really itchy—sometimes even bleeding. When it dries, black spots appear where I scratched. This all started after I moved to Ahmedabad. Back in Dabhoi, where the weather was cooler, I didn't have these problems. To manage it, I wear socks and apply petroleum jelly, but when my feet get wet and then dry, the itching gets worse. As you can see, the skin turns black after scratching, and there's swelling in some spots."
Punjab
Supriya Kaur, Athlete (Volleyball and Badminton)
"I have to wear shoes for long hours, around 10-12 hours a day. I often experience itching blisters and have never used any specific product to address this issue."
Smriti, Athlete (Volleyball)
"Sports shoes with arches are highly expensive, and as we come from middle-class families, we can’t afford them. During theory classes, my feet sweat a lot, and I often deal with smelly feet."
Aarif, Athlete (Basketball)
"When I started playing sports, I had issues with corns. However, as I became more professional and started using high-quality shoes, the problem significantly decreased. Smelly feet, rashes, and infections are common issues among sportsmen."
Harjinder, Athlete (Kho Kho)
"I wear mat shoes for kho kho, and they are designed to fit tightly, leaving no room for the feet to breathe. This often leads to blisters and boils."
West Bengal
Sumanta Mallick
"I wear shoes for long hours at work, and by the time I get home, my feet are itching with redness and swelling. Sometimes the discomfort is so bad that it’s hard to relax, and I even notice blisters forming occasionally from the moisture trapped in the shoes."
Somnath Chakraborty
"I’ve used several foot creams, but the infection keeps returning no matter what I try. The closed shoes at work make it impossible for my feet to breathe, which just worsens the condition. Even though I keep changing socks regularly, the relief is only temporary."
Avik Das Poddar
Avik Das Poddar "Wearing closed shoes all day leaves my feet smelly with flaky skin, and the constant dampness has caused cracks between my toes. I even consulted a dermatologist and tried the medications prescribed, but none of them have worked, and the condition keeps coming back, especially during the summer and rainy seasons."
Understanding Athletes' Footwear Needs: Insights from Coaches and Athletes
In our quest to make our project truly inclusive, we turned our attention to athletes—individuals whose feet bear the brunt of immense strain and pressure on a daily basis. To dive deeper into the crucial role that footwear plays in their lives, we held insightful interviews with three seasoned athletic coaches from football, badminton, and kabaddi, along with various athletes from Maharaja Bhupinder Singh University in Patiala.
These discussions revealed just how vital proper footwear is—not just for performance, but for injury prevention and long-term foot health. For athletes pushing their physical limits day in and day out, the right footwear can make all the difference. Hearing firsthand about their experiences and needs helped us better understand the importance of tailored foot care for those who rely on their feet to achieve greatness. This has played a key role in shaping our project to ensure it caters to the unique demands of both athletes and active individuals.
Ek Pehel Outreach: Bringing Science to Underprivileged Children
As part of our inclusivity efforts, we believe that education should be accessible to everyone, especially those with limited resources. To achieve this, we partnered with the Ek Pehel initiative at IISER Kolkata, which focuses on educating children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Through this collaboration, we introduced these eager young minds to the exciting world of synthetic biology. By conducting hands-on activities and interactive lessons, we made science both fun and accessible, aiming to ignite their curiosity and inspire a passion for learning. This experience reinforced our belief in the power of education to break barriers and open new opportunities for all.
Embracing Linguistic Diversity: Translating Surveys for Inclusivity
Recognizing India's vast linguistic diversity, we made sure our project was accessible to a broader audience by translating our survey questions into four regional languages—Kashmiri, Malayalam, Bengali, Punjabi, and Gujarati. By offering the survey in these languages, we ensured that participants could engage with our research comfortably in their native tongue.
This effort not only promoted inclusivity but also allowed us to gather more accurate, region-specific insights, reflecting the unique needs and challenges of diverse communities across the country.
- Bengali
- Kashmiri
- Malayalam
- Punjabi
- Gujarati
Celebrating Diversity: Honoring LGBTQ+ Contributions to Science
As part of our inclusivity efforts, during Pride Month, we took to Instagram to highlight the remarkable contributions and inspiring stories of individuals from the LGBTQ+ community in the world of science. Through these posts, we aimed to celebrate diversity within the scientific community and raise awareness about the pivotal role LGBTQ+ scientists have played in driving innovation and discovery.
This initiative was a small but meaningful step in fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all individuals in science, regardless of their identity.