Summer Research: Abhilasha Talwar ’28 Uses Digital Mapping Tools for Religion Studies Research
Talwar, a computer science and mathematics double major, is exploring how religious sites in her home country of India have changed over time.Wednesday, August 13, 2025 08:44 AM
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Abhilasha Talwar ’28More than 70 Muhlenberg students are conducting research this summer — about 60 on campus, about 10 more remotely, and a handful of others through other institutions.
Research challenges students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, hone their discipline-specific skills, and make an impact in their field. Learn more about Muhlenberg’s transformative summer research program.
Abhilasha Talwar ’28
Hometown: Asansol, West Bengal, India
Majors: Computer science and mathematics
Describe your research.
I’m using digital mapping tools to show how religious places in India, especially the Babri Masjid and the Ram Mandir, have changed over time. These places were destroyed, rebuilt, or changed completely. My maps help show how these changes are connected to bigger political and cultural issues in the country.
“I enjoy research because it lets me explore big questions and look for thoughtful answers.”
Why are you interested in research generally and in this project specifically?
I enjoy research because it lets me explore big questions and look for thoughtful answers. This project is special to me because I was in India last January when a major religious event happened. I also spoke to my grandfather about the history of these places. His stories made me realize how much emotion, memory, and history are tied to these spaces. I wanted to understand that better using mapping and technology.
How did you learn about this opportunity?
I heard about this research opportunity from an email sent by the Dean of Student Life. At first, I did not think I could do it since I was visiting family in India. When I asked some professors, they said I might need more experience before doing research in computer science or math. But then I spoke with my former advisor, [Senior Lecturer of Religion Studies Sharon] Albert, and she offered to let me work with her on something I had done a small class project on. She also said I could do it remotely, so I agreed right away. We began working in June, and she has been very supportive, pointing me to helpful resources and guiding me along the way. My first year at Muhlenberg, especially the first-year seminar I took, The Power of Maps with Professor Albert, really prepared me for this experience. That course focused on storytelling, historical analysis, and maps, which all connect with my research now.
“[My advisor] has been very supportive, pointing me to helpful resources and guiding me along the way.”
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your research?
Learning Geographic Information System (GIS) software was a challenge since I had never used it before. It also took time and effort to find historical maps and documents, as many are hard to access or not digitized. The most rewarding part was going to the National Library in Kolkata, India, where I found a few books that helped me understand the full timeline of the conflict. I also found some old maps online from around the time the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir conflict was happening. Seeing those maps made everything feel much more real. As someone from India, I realized how little I had learned about this in school. Reading those books and studying the maps gave me a deeper connection to my country’s recent history and made me want to keep exploring it.
How is this experience shaping your understanding of what you want to do in the future?
This project has shown me that I want to keep combining technology with storytelling and religion. I hope to work on tools that help share and protect these kinds of stories in a digital way. It’s helping me see how I can bring my interests in computer science and the humanities together.
“[My research is] helping me see how I can bring my interests in computer science and the humanities together.”
At Muhlenberg, Talwar is part of the South Asian Student Association and the MINT hip-hop dance team; a student worker with the Office of Information Technology help desk and media services; and an admissions tour guide.
