Sugata Mitra
Born 1952 · Age 73
Indian computer scientist and educational theorist best known for the 'Hole in the Wall' experiment, proponent of Minimally Invasive Education and creator of the SOLE (Self-Organised Learning Environment) / School in the Cloud initiatives.
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Life & Career Timeline
Completed secondary schooling (Jesuit schools)
Attended Jesuit schools in India; left-school milestone preceding university studies (year estimated).
Undergraduate degree in physics (Calcutta)
Completed a physics degree in Calcutta before postgraduate work (year estimated based on typical timeline).
PhD in Solid State Physics (IIT Delhi)
Awarded PhD in Solid State Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (year estimated; text confirms PhD but not year).
Researcher at Centre for Energy Studies, IIT Delhi
Worked on battery technology and energy-related research at IIT Delhi's Centre for Energy Studies (approximate year).
Published zinc–chlorine battery paper
Published 'A design for zinc–chlorine batteries' in Journal of Power Sources (1982).
Published speculative paper on human sense organs
Published 'Correlation Between the Location and Sensitivity of Human Sense Organs' (Speculative Science & Technology, 1982).
Research at Technische Universität Vienna
Worked at the Technische Universität, Vienna on related research after IIT (year estimated from text sequence).
Joined NIIT as a programmer
Joined NIIT (started working as a computer programmer and later teaching programming), early career move that led to educational experiments (year estimated).
Helped establish Yellow Pages industry in India/Bangladesh
Credited with setting up networked computers and helping create the 'Yellow Pages' industry in India and Bangladesh (text attributes this work to Mitra; approximate period).
Published on synaptic disconnection model
Published 'The effect of synaptic disconnection on bi-directional associative recall' (Proc. IEEE/SMC Conf., 1994), arguing broken connections mimic Alzheimer's disease.
Chief Scientist / pedagogy work at NIIT (approx.)
As Chief Scientist with NIIT Limited he created the organization's first pedagogy and curricula and led educational-technology research (approximate timing based on career sequence).
First 'Hole in the Wall' experiment (Kalkaji, Delhi)
Placed a public-access computer in a wall in a Delhi slum (Kalkaji) and observed children teaching themselves — birth of the 'Hole in the Wall' experiment and Minimally Invasive Education (MIE).
Expanded HIW to multiple kiosks in India
Hole in the Wall project deployed roughly 23 kiosks across rural India as part of the program (text states HIW placed some 23 kiosks; date approximate to early 2000s).
Hole in the Wall experiments in Cambodia
Replicated HIW experiments in Cambodia, showing children there also learned computer and web use without formal instruction.
Hole in the Wall inspired the novel Q & A
Mitra's experiments inspired Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup to write his debut novel 'Q & A' (published 2005), later adapted into the film Slumdog Millionaire.
Published Australasian Journal paper on HIW
Co-authored 'Acquisition of Computer Literacy on Shared Public Computers: Children and the “Hole in the wall”' in Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (2005).
Dewang Mehta Award for Innovation in IT
Awarded the Dewang Mehta Award for Innovation in Information Technology for work including the Hole in the Wall experiments.
Joined Newcastle University as Professor of Educational Technology
Became Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University; he would spend 13 years there before retiring in 2019 (start year derived from retirement statement).
TED Talk: 'The Hole in the Wall'
Delivered a TED Talk describing the Hole in the Wall experiments (video and talk widely circulated).
TED Talk: 'The Child-Driven Education'
Presented ideas on child-led learning and minimally invasive education at TED in 2010.
Visiting Professor at MIT Media Lab
Spent a year (2012) as a visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, MA, collaborating and promoting the 'School in the Cloud' concept.
Leonardo European Corporate Learning Award (Crossing Border)
Won the Leonardo European Corporate Learning Award in the 'Crossing Border' category (September 2012).
Won the TED Prize (Build a School in the Cloud)
Awarded the 2013 TED Prize and delivered the TED Talk 'Build a School in the Cloud' (talk featured on 3 May 2013).
Announced School in the Cloud / used TED Prize funds to set up SOLEs
Used TED Prize resources (reported $1M prize) to create School in the Cloud hubs and set up several SOLE (Self-Organised Learning Environment) centers—seven SOLEs cited in reporting.
Named 'Global Education Superstar' by The Times (reported)
Reported recognition as a 'Global Education Superstar' by The Times (statement appears on NIIT materials tied to his TED Prize year).
Wired profile / coverage of radical teaching claims
Wired and other outlets published features on Mitra's methods and high-profile claims (coverage amplified around 2013 following TED Prize).
Set up and evaluated SOLEs with Newcastle University team
With Newcastle University researchers he began formal evaluations of SOLE/SCHOOL IN THE CLOUD sites established after the TED Prize (approximate start of systematic evaluation).
Guardian profile on 'School in the Cloud'
In-depth Guardian profile published (7 June 2016) discussing Mitra's methods, global experiments, criticisms, and influence.
Retired from Newcastle University
Retired in 2019 as Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University after 13 years service (2006–2019).
Professor Emeritus status at NIIT University (public association)
Listed as Professor Emeritus at NIIT University and has longstanding association as Founding Professor, Educational Technology (public materials indicate emeritus role by this time).
Public claims of 25+ inventions in cognitive science and ed-tech
NIIT and other profiles attribute more than 25 inventions/patents in cognitive science and education technology to Mitra (cumulative milestone reported in profiles).
Edufuturists Outstanding Achievement in Education Award
Received the 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Education Award at the 4th Annual Edufuturists Awards (30 June 2022).
Continued global speaking and advisory roles
Continues to appear as keynote speaker, adviser, and thought leader on self-organised learning and educational technology (ongoing activity summarized as milestone).
Key Achievement Ages
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