Professor Chiranjib Sur, Visiting Professor of Computer Science, SIAS, Krea University participated in InsightX: AI-Powered Innovations and Transformation in Digital R&D by Prescience Insilico Pvt Ltd on 3 September, 2024. He delivered a talk on AI: Journey from Artificial to Advanced Intelligence.
The Consulate General of the United States in association with the British Council conducted a panel discussion titled Her Frames: Women Shaping The Future of Film today at the British Council, Chennai. Dr Swarnamalya Ganesh, Assistant Professor of Practice & Discipline Coordinator for Arts, SIAS, Krea University moderated the session. The panel comprised film producer Caroline Libresco, film entrepreneur Archana Kalpathi, journalist Geeta Ilangovan and filmmaker Nandhini JS.
Dr Joya John, Assistant Professor of Literature, SIAS, Krea University presented a paper titled Heritage Carbon: Fossil Fuels in the Indian Museum at a 4-day conference organised by the University of Liverpool, Jadavpur University and Ahmedabad University. The conference theme was Redefining Tangible and Intangible Heritage. Dr Joya John’s paper asked how with India entering into a global mandate on the mitigation of carbon emissions, can the Science and Technology museum undertake a historical reappraisal of modern energy systems archived in it?
A student collective organised a series of educational and awareness-raising events centered on some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian and political crises. As part of this initiative, on 24 August, 2024 they hosted an exhibition dedicated to highlighting the situations in Palestine, Congo, and Sudan on the Sri City campus.
The exhibition was thoughtfully designed, with three rooms dedicated to exploring the many facets of these three crises, including their impact on human life, education, the environment, and more. Each room offered perspective through art (music, visual art, poetry, etc), photography and facts on one crisis (Sudan, Congo and Palestine), encouraging visitors to delve deeper into the complexities of these issues.
As someone who interacted with the exhibit, I was deeply moved. The exhibition forced me to question how we prioritise certain global issues over others, and what drives those decisions. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of staying connected to the world beyond our immediate surroundings, as we often live in a bubble that can obscure our understanding of global realities. Staying in a bubble makes it all the more crucial to stay informed and engaged with the world around us.
The exhibit did an exceptional job of breaking through that bubble, sparking conversations that were both meaningful and necessary. The student collective hopes that the student body continues to engage with humanitarian crises both in our country and globally, and hopes that students keep having discussions and find ways to help
Here are some links that they would like the student body to engage with regarding these three particular crises.
(Reported by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS)
Dr Suresh Govindapuram, Assistant Professor of Economics, IFMR GSB, Krea University virtually presented a paper titled Cultural Distance and Discrimination in Access to Financial Services: A Case Study for Bank Loans in Rural India at the European Regional Science Association (ESRA 2024) Congress: Regional Science Dialogues for Peace and Sustainable Development on 26 August, 2024 under the theme Culture Based Development: Cultural Narratives for Polarization versus Peace.
We’re excited to announce the selection of Shubham Bhattacharyya, Aditya Patni, Neelam Meghashyam, and Ritam Sen as the new Junior Student Council members of IFMR GSB, Krea University. We look forward to the positive impact these leaders will bring to our campus.
Dr Sayandeb Chowdhury, Senior Assistant Professor of Literature, SIAS, Krea University has authored an article titled Mamata’s Handling of the R.G. Kar Hospital Case Could Prove to Be Her Hour of Reckoning for The Wire.
Sayantan Datta, Assistant Professor of Practice, Krea-CWP (Centre for Writing and Pedagogy), has authored an article titled Earthquake 2,500 years ago abruptly changed Ganga river’s course for The Hindu. The story explores how scientists discovered that an ancient earthquake had moved the mighty Ganges.
Last year, the Government of India’s Capacity Building Commission initiated the documentation of best practices case studies in the Indian public administration system. Professor Lakshmi Kumar, Dean, IFMR GSB (Graduate School of Business), Krea University, spearheaded the initiative to collaborate with the Capacity Building Commission to document around ten case studies as a part of Amrit Gyaan Kosh knowledge bank.
Six professors from IFMR GSB including — Professor Lakshmi Kumar; Professor Vijayalakshmi C, Professor, OB & HR; Professor Chandrasekaran N, Professor, Operations Management & Chairperson – Examinations and Assessments; Sathyanarayanan R, Sundram Fasteners Associate Professor, Marketing; Dr Jayasankar Ramanathan, Associate Professor, Marketing and Dr V N Rajesh, Associate Professor, Data Science & Information Systems and Area Chair – Data Science & Information Systems — volunteered for this task and have written these case studies, documenting some of the outstanding initiatives and best practices of our civil servants around the country in various states and departments.
During the Civil Service Training Institutions (CSTI) Convention 2024, organised by the Government of India’s Capacity Building Commission on 12 August, 2024 in New Delhi, the “Amrit Gyaan Kosh” was launched by Dr Jitendra Sigh — the Honourable Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy & Minister of State in the Department of Space. IFMR GSB professors were also honoured with an invitation to attend the launch.
On 13 August, 2024, we had the privilege of listening to Dr V Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, deliver a lecture on the topic India’s Development Paradigm till 2047: Opportunities and Challenges. Dr Nageswaran discussed key aspects of the economic survey that were reflected in the budget, highlighting the opportunities ahead and the challenges we may encounter. He also elaborated on the direction of India’s economic path and the factors shaping it.
A central theme of the discussion was the importance of considering India’s economic events within a global context. Dr Nageswaran emphasised this point, stating, “So, for example, when you hear complaints about India’s trade policies, you must place them in the context of the global numbers of protective measures taken by different countries over the years.” Dr Nageswaran also addressed other critical topics such as geopolitics, climate change, and the energy transition, both in Indian and international contexts, as essential factors in shaping India’s growth over the next few decades.
The talk delved into the current state of the Indian economy, the reasoning behind recent decisions, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, along with possible solutions. Dr Nageswaran also explained the rationale behind budgetary choices, noting, for instance, “So there is much more to be done in terms of skilling, and that is why this year’s budget created incentives for skilling.” The talk provided valuable insights into India’s development path and was an immensely enlightening experience.
(Reported by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS)
