Category: Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Turzo Nicholas Mondal, Doctoral student in Anthropology, SIAS and Dr Annu Jalais, Associate Professor of Anthropology, SIAS  presented their paper at the International Symposium on ‘ Precarious Water Futures and End(s) of World(s)-  an Integrative Dialogue Across Disciplines  and Societies’  organised by Käte Hamburger Center for Apocalyptic and Post Apocalyptic Studies (CAPAS), Heidelberg University, Germany. The conference was held at the India International Centre, New Delhi. They also participated in a stimulating round-table discussion on the Sundarbans with other Sundarbans experts.

Sayantan Datta, Assistant Professor of Practice, Centre for Writing and Pedagogy, Krea University delivered the 85th Popular Science Lecture at the Anna Centenary Library, Chennai on 23 November 2024.

Earlier this month, scientists from New York University showed that human embryonic kidney cells – disembodied and cultured for generations in the laboratory – could show canonical features of memory. Last month, Kolkata-based researchers engineered bacteria that could organise into artificial neural network-like architectures, and compute abstract mathematical problems. Memory and computing abstract problems are two processes that are typically thought to be the forte of the brain, a specialised organ composed of billions of specialised cells. But if cultured kidney cells can remember, and bacteria can be made to do (some) mathematics, what does this mean for us, and what we understand as intelligence?  In this lecture, Sayantan summarised recent scientific studies that report ‘intelligent behavior’ in ‘brainless’ organisms: learning and memory in non-neuronal cells, and problem-solving in slime molds. In doing so, Sayantan dwelled on the possibilities and opportunities offered by these findings – for science and for humanity.

The Popular Science Lectures is part of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum’s (TNSF’s) efforts to popularise science to the general public and students who are pursuing science as their career.

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Dr Vasupradha Srikrishna,Assistant Professor of Communications, IFMR GSB, Krea University recently presented her research at various global events.

Dr Srikrishna presented research titled, Unleashing South Asian Voices: Mobilizing Mobile Technology for Women’s Leadership in Community Radio and Women’s Empowerment, at the Asian Congress for Media and Communication (ACMC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, held between 30 October-3 November, 2024. This research focused on how mobile technology empowers women through community radio.

We are thrilled to share Dr Srajana Kaikini, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, SIAS, Krea University’s new poems Points I Cannot Find are exhibited along with Jogen Chowdhury’s recent works as part of The Night the Writing Fell Silent, conceptualised by Priyasri Art Gallery at Art Mumbai 2024 .

Dr Joya John, Assistant Professor of Literature, SIAS, Krea University has been awarded the ICAS:MP short-term fellowship 2024-2025.

The M.S. Merian – R. Tagore International Centre of Advanced Studies: ‘Metamorphoses of the Political: Comparative Perspectives on the Long Twentieth Century’ (ICAS:MP) is an open, interdisciplinary forum for intellectual exchange. Located in New Delhi it critically intervenes in global debates within the social sciences and humanities. It is one of the five Maria Sibylla Merian Centres constituted by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as centres of advanced studies. Scholars associated with ICAS:MP examine and compare, from a wide array of disciplinary and methodological approaches, how ‘the political’ has been conceptualised, articulated and performed in specific arenas of contestation during what we call the ‘long twentieth century.’

Dr Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi, Dean, SIAS, Krea University is on the South Asia Advisory Board of Prospectus International which includes esteemed leaders from academia, government and industry who have shaped high-impact initiatives at international and national levels. 

Dr R S Sathya Saminadan, Associate Professor of Practice, IFMR GSB, Krea University has penned an article titled Marketing to Aliens: The next frontier in Commerce, published in The Indian Express – Indulge The Morning Standard, Kolkata edition. 

The article examines the intriguing idea of intergalactic marketing with strategies, challenges, and ethical considerations involved in selling products and services to alien civilisations.

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Dr Jayasankar Ramanathan, Associate Professor, Marketing, IFMR GSB, Krea University has penned an article in BW Education titled Integrating Death Management Into India’s Engineering & Management Curriculum.

Dr Jayasankar advocates inclusion of death management as a foundational course in engineering and management programmes in India, emphasising its importance in preparing students for life’s unpredictable nature and fostering responsibility.

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