Indian Citation Index (IndianCitationIndex.com) Launched

Indian Citation Index (IndianCitationIndex.com) Launched

India is contributing good amount of knowledge contents to world literature but there is no tool for evaluation and measurement of its impact, quality and quantity. Accordingly, Indian researchers, scholars, policy makers, decision takers, funding agencies and others too have been facing a big problem to perform/assess the contribution/contributors objectively. At international level few tools/databases like WoS and SCOPUS are available but coverage of Indian knowledge contents in these databases are negligible. Therefore, these tools/databases are not adequate to evaluate/analyze India's knowledge contents.

As is known that to come over such limitation, few of the countries, like China, Korea, Japan etc. have already brought out their own citation indexes for proper evaluation and representation of their R&D contribution. With the same approach and bridge existing gap, I am happy to inform you that the "Indian Citation Index (ICI)" has come in existence for the benefit of R&D community including researchers, planers, decision makers, funding agencies etc. and it is ready/available for users w.e.f. 25th October 2010.

Indian Citation Index (ICI) is a home grown citation database, planned to have multidisciplinary information/knowledge contents from about 1000 top Indian scholarly journals. It provides powerful search engine to perform search and evaluate researchers, policy makers, decision makers, institutions, subjects, city, state etc. Presently, ICI have five years back files data depth of 400 plus journals which would go over to 1000 journals by March/April 2011. ICI is equipped with all major search features including analytics to serve the requirements of users. Also, by the end of December 2010, few more specific and elaborative search features will be in place to meet local needs more specifically.

Indian Citation Index (ICI) is developed by a society named "The Knowledge Foundation" which is fully supported by M/s Divan Enterprise. ICI as a product for sale, distribution, enter into agreements, receive revenue etc is exclusively owned by M/s Divan Enterprise. The ICI may be accessed by its URL: http://www.indiancitationindex.com/.

We are happy to announce that Indian Citation Index (ICI) is being launched on 25th October 2010 at New Delhi, India.

Contact

Prakash Chand
Head ICI Project
Email: prakash[at]indiancitationindex.com
www.indiancitationindex.com

Call for Indian management research proposals:: 2010 Emerald/IAM Indian Management Research Fund Award

2010 Emerald/IAM Indian Management Research Fund Award
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supporting knowledge creation and dissemination for the social good in India

Call for Indian management research proposals

This year, Emerald and the IAM – Indian Academy of Management – are delighted to offer a research grant for an Indian project in the field of management research. There will be one award of £2,000 (approximately US$3,000 equivalent) for the winning research project, and two awards of £500 each for highly-commended runners up, to fund or part-fund these projects.

Applications should address the creation and dissemination of knowledge for the social good with a specific orientation toward benefit for India.

Eligibility
The main member of the research team must be based in India.

Judging criteria
Each application will be judged, by a panel of experts, on the criteria below. The research must:

• Be of significance, and in particular, illustrate how it will benefit the social good.
• Demonstrate originality and innovation.
• Make an outstanding contribution to theory and its application.
• Illustrate the appropriateness and application of the methodology.
• Demonstrate sound implications for theory and practice.

Application requirements
Each proposal must be submitted using the online application form at:
http://ww2.emeraldinsight.com/awards/indianmgmt.htm

The following documents will be required electronically:

• A summary stating specific goals, outcomes and benefits of the research. This should not exceed 2,000 words (note that tables, figures, appendices and reference lists, if provided do NOT count to the 2,000 word total).
• A covering letter containing full contact details (affiliation, full address, telephone number/s and e-mail address) for all researchers involved in the project. Please state clearly which researcher will be the main point of contact.

The 2,000-word summary must:

• Display clearly a statement of purpose and intent.
• State clearly the methodology(ies) applied and explicitly describe the research process.
• State expected research outcomes and expected impact and possible application.
• Specify the expected timescales of the research process.
• Outline projected costs and total research grant required.

Key dates

• The closing date for applications is 1 February 2011.
• Winners will be announced in April 2011.

Last year's winner

Last year Emerald was delighted to receive almost 50 research proposals of outstanding quality. The winning research proposal was "Understanding and addressing cataract-related eye care issues in rural Tamil Nadu" by Bharadhwaj Sivakumaran (Great Lakes Institute of Management), in conjunction with Arti D. Kalro (Indian Institute of Technology Madras) and Piyush Sharma (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University).

"My co-researchers and I thank Emerald for recognizing the potential in our work and giving us the award. It is indeed a great honour. In fact, it has always been a dream of mine to do management research with a strong social focus. However, it has been difficult to find funding for the same. It is indeed praiseworthy that Emerald is willing to fund such research and enable scholars like me to do research in this area. I hope that with the funding we get from Emerald, we can find something useful from our research that will not just advance the frontiers of knowledge, but do so in a way that will enhance societal welfare. Once again, thanks to Emerald."

For further information, please contact:
Anasua Mukherjee Das
Publishing Relationship Manager
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
502-503, Ring Road Mall
Sector-3, Mangalam Place, Rohini
New Delhi-110085, India
Tel: +91 11 43362200
E-mail: ADas[at]emeraldinsight.com

Further Details

24th Skoch Summit: Delivering Equality, Growth and Social Justice

24th Skoch Summit: Delivering Equality, Growth and Social Justice

10-11 November 2010

Venue: Hotel Shangri-La, Ashoka Road, New Delhi

Organized by Skoch Development Foundation, Gurgaon

In this 24th Summit we revisit the theme from the 4th Skoch Summit held in October 2010 at New Delhi.The 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) document has a subtitle of inclusive growth. This lists out divides and disparities and these can be spatial (geographic) or collective-category (gender, caste, community, ethnicity, religion) based. Reforms that trigger growth must be inclusive in the sense of broad-basing growth and mainstreaming deprived and backward segments. While growth throws up market-based opportunities, there must be equal access to markets. The main items on this inclusive growth agenda are the following:

• Education
• Health
• Infrastructure
• Governance
• Subsidies
• Spatial deprivations
• Financial Deepening
• Public goods and Public expenditure
• Land and natural resource markets
• Special Session: A Billion Connected People - Making of a Digital Nation

Download Brochure

Download Registration Form

Further Details

Open House Discussion on Consultation Paper on "National Broadband Plan"

Open House Discussion on Consultation Paper on "National Broadband Plan"

Date: 19.10.2010
Time: Registration: 09.30 A;Conference: 10:00 AM

Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India

Organized by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Interested Stakeholders/industry representatives are invited to participate. The Consultation Paper on the subject is available on the TRAI Website www.trai.gov.in under the heading "Consultation Paper".

Further Details

RSVP

Shri S.K. Gupta, Advisor (CN&IT), TRAI, New Delhi, India;

Ph.: 91-11-23217914. Fax No. 91-11 -23211998.

Email: advcn[at]trai.gov.in, or cn[at]trai.gov.in.

International Consultation on DNA Barcoding

International Consultation on DNA Barcoding

6–7 November 2010

Venue: National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi, India

The consultation aims to discuss the global barcoding activities including all groups of plants and animals. The focus will be on networking of Indian barcoding community, develop new project proposals, exploring funding opportunities and develop linkages with national and international groups leading to preparing a blue print of comprehensive plan at regional and national level. We expect participation of over 200 delegates including experts from different sectors, policy makers, users of barcoding technology and representatives from funding agencies, Senior Officials from CBOL, USA Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding and University of Guelph.

Interested persons may kindly contact Dr W. S. Lakra, Convenor and Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Off Yari Road, Panch Marg, Versova, Mumbai 400 061; Fax: 022-2636 1573; e-mail: lakraws[at]hotmail.com or director[at]cife.edu.in.

CfP:: 5th International Research Conference 2010

5th International Research Conference 2010

Date: Sunday, 26 December 2010

Organized by Yale-Great Lakes Center for Management Research

Venue: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, India

Call for Papers
Yale-Great Lakes Center for Management Research aims to promote, facilitate and advance India-centric management-related research, which contributes to the development of basic and applied knowledge in the field of management. Papers are invited from academia and industry. Topic of the paper can be from any area of business and management.

Guidelines for Paper submission

• Submitted papers must NOT have been previously presented, scheduled for presentation, published, accepted for publication, and if under review, must NOT appear in print before the conference.
• The maximum length of the paper is 8000 words. The paper format should follow the style guide of Great Lakes Herald (http://www.greatlakes.edu.in/herald)
• The entire paper should be in a single Microsoft Word document and should be sent as an attachment via email to yc@greatlakes.edu.in
• Accommodation will be provided and AC train fare will be reimbursed to the authors of the selected papers.

Important Dates

• Last date for paper submission: October 31, 2010
• Acceptance/Rejection notification: November 20, 2010
  

Keynote Speakers

• Keynote speakers include faculty from various business school across the world such as Kellogg, Stanford, Yale and IIM-Ahmedabad.

Submission & Queries
Prof Venkat R. Krishnan
Great Lakes Institute of Management
East Coast Road, Manamai, Tamilnadu, Pincode - 603102.
Email: yc[at]greatlakes.edu.in, venkat.r.krishnan[at]gmail.com
Phone: +91 (44) 30809000
Fax : +91 (44) 30809001
www.greatlakes.edu.in

Call for Cases - Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, due for launch in 2011, is in need of teaching cases from and about the key emerging markets.

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies is being developed in response to increasing demands from business educators and practitioners for quality-controlled teaching cases focusing on global emerging markets. The collection will offer unique and accurate insight into the local situation across the primary emerging markets within Asia, Africa, South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The collection is progressing well and we have seen some excellent submissions to date, but we still need your support to ensure the success of this new and exciting collection. Emerald is committed to publishing quality, peer reviewed cases written by case-writers based within the emerging economies, and we hope to become the publisher of choice for authors in those regions.

Emerald is therefore currently seeking teaching cases with an emerging market/s focus from all management disciplines, but Emerald has particular interest in the following areas:

• Entrepreneurship
• International marketing
• Operations & logistics management
• Strategic management
• International business
• Tourism & hospitality
• The built environment, and
• Human resource management.

If you are interested in submitting your case, Author Guidelines can be found here.

Emerald will pay all published authors an annual royalty of 10%, as well as, providing complimentary access to the full Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies online collection.

If you have any questions then please contact Ms. Anasua Mukherjee Das, Publishing Relationship Manager on adas@emeraldinsight.com.

Further Details

Academic Writing & Publication Workshop for Research Students at CUG Gandhinagar

Academic Writing & Publication Workshop for Research Students

14-20 November 2010

Organized by Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar

In collaboration with ICSSR-Western Regional Centre, Mumbai

Applications are invited for the Academic Writing and Publication Workshop for Research Students that will be held at Central University of Gujarat from November 16 to 20, 2010. The workshop will be held in collaboration with ICSSR –Western Regional Centre and will offer research students in colleges and universities an opportunity to learn and discuss the techniques of research writing and publication. The workshop will (i) help participants understand how to structure research papers effectively, (ii) enhance their ability to critique, edit and review their own work, and (iii) familiarize them with the academic publication process. The themes that will be covered would include:

• Writing a proposal
• Review of literature
• Critiquing a manuscript- Different perspectives
• Information search
• Citation styles, using end notes and foot notes
• Analyzing data – qualitative and quantitative
• Preparing a manuscript for publication
• Organizing the argument
• Different styles of writing
• Making abstracts, synopsis
  

Resource Persons:

This workshop will be conducted by resource persons eminent in the field of social sciences who have experience in writing, editing and publishing research papers. The workshop will be structured as an intensive mix of lectures and discussions. The focus will be on interactive participation.

Who Is Eligible?

Students who have registered for M.Phil/Ph.D. in any university in the field of social sciences and who are preferably at the writing stage of their dissertation/thesis.

Applicants must submit one draft research paper or research proposal of about 2500 words to 4000 words (including footnotes/endnotes and references) that they have written along with their applications. Applications without the draft paper will not be considered.

Travel and Accommodation:

Outstation participants will be paid travel by III AC by train from their place to Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar and back.

Registration Fee:

Please submit a demand draft of Rs.150/- as processing fee (non-refundable) in favour of "Central University of Gujarat", payable at Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, along with the application form. Selected candidates will have to pay an additional Rs. 500/- as registration fee after they are informed about their selection.

Important Dates:
Last date for Receipt of Applications: 15 October 2010
Date for informing applicants of selection: 1 November 2010.

Please send your application forms to : Prof. N.Rajaram, Coordinator, Academic Writing Workshop-2010, School of Social Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030. Tel No: 079-23260208 Fax: 079-23260076. Email: aww2010[at]cug.ac.in.

Download Application Form

Further Details

Social Science Research Methods Festival at AUD

Social Science Research Methods Festival

11-31 December 2010

Organized by Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD)

What are the Aims of the Festival?

Using a theoretically sound, interdisciplinary and hands-on approach, and organised in the form of blocs, this residential festival presents a unique opportunity for young social science scholars to come together to:

• develop an understanding in epistemological concerns and philosophical foundations of social science research
• acquire basic skills and understanding in designing and conducting research
• gain exposure to specific qualitative and quantitative methods and applications
• discuss and tackle, in a relaxed and supportive environment, issues of interpreting, articulating and publishing research findings
  

Who is the Festival for?

This Festival is of relevance for young scholars (doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and early career faculty) engaged in social science research in universities and research institutions in India and abroad. Preference will be given to those who have already had some exposure to research methods (through courses they may have taken at the master's level).

What Will the Festival Consist of?

The Festival will consist of three Blocs. Participants may opt for either Bloc I (4 credits) consisting of a general course on doing social science research (a two-week workshop is its mainstay) and preparing a research proposal, or Bloc II (2 credits) consisting of weeklong workshops running concurrently on specialized applications and methods in social science research (notably, Atlas.ti, statistics for social scientists, ethnography and participatory research methods), and/or Bloc III (4 credits) devoted to a course in scientific and research writing (involving a week-long workshop and follow up activities). As part of the festival, public lectures, field visits, film screenings and book exhibitions will also be organized on the theme of 'Exploring the Margins'. Participants may also join mentorship groups, which will help them in gaining clarity regarding their research aims and in accordingly planning their research trajectory.

Bloc I: Doing Social Science Research (11-24 December 2010)

• Module 1: Thinking about Research Methods
• Module 2: Methods, Instruments and Orthodoxy in the Social Sciences: Reading the Classics
• Module 3: Designs, Methods, Data and Disciplines: Understanding Boundaries, Building Bridges
• Module 4: Basic Processes of Social Science Research
• Module 5: Hermeneutics of a Research Proposal: Design, Data, Methods and Theories I
• Module 6: Hermeneutics of a Research Proposal: Design, Data, Methods and Theories II
• Module 7: Politics of Knowledge Production and Ethical Issues in the Practice of Social Science Research

Bloc II: Applications and Methods in Social Science Research (11-31 December 2010) (Two modules may run simultaneously)

• Module 1: Using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software
• Module 2: Ethnography
• Module 3: Participatory research methods
• Module 4: Statistics for social science researchers

Bloc III: Scientific and Research Writing (25-31 December 2010)

The focus of this bloc will be on writing to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

• Module 1: ABC of academic writing
• Module 2: What makes a good research article?
• Module 3: Writing for multiple audiences: academics, policy-makers and development practitioners
• Module 4: Reading, reflection and review of one's writing I
• Module 5: Reading, reflection and review of one's writing II
• Module 6: Preparing the manuscript for journal publication I
• Module 7: Preparing the manuscript for journal publication II

Plenaries

This segment of the Festival will be optional for the participants.

• Author Meets Readers
• Copy-Editor Meets Potential Authors
• Public Lectures
• Re-searching Contexts: 2-3 published qualitative and quantitative studies conducted in Delhi on the theme of 'Exploring the Margins' shall be identified. On one day of the week, day-long visits will be organized, taking the participants to re-search the field sites from these studies and to take note of the continuities and changes in the field sites.

Book Displays

Leading publishers and book distributors shall be invited to display books and journals on research methods in the social sciences at the Festival. Participants and resource persons may purchase/ place order for the books and journals at discount prices.

Mentorship Groups

The aim of these groups will be to facilitate the participants in their efforts to gain clarity regarding their research aims and to accordingly plan their research trajectory or put together research projects that they may wish to pursue.

Social Activities

AUD will host special luncheons on the first and the last days of the Festival. Film screenings shall be organized. A page of suggestions for things to do in Delhi before or after the Festival will also be uploaded on the website as the Festival dates approach.

Who Will be Resource Persons at the Festival?

A dynamic team of resource persons with teaching and research experience in the social sciences, and a keen understanding of research methods will be associated with the festival. A number of artists, writers, publishers will also be invited to make brief interventions. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the resource persons.

• Ms. Pooja Bhargava (Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai); Dr. Nandita Chaudhary (Lady Irwin College, Delhi); Professor R Govinda (National University of Educational Planning and Administration, Delhi); Professor N Jayaram (Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai); Dr. Jyotsna Jha (independent researcher, Bangalore); Professor Farida Khan (Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi); Professor Shyam Menon (Ambedkar University Delhi); Dr. Punya Pillai (Lady Irwin College, Delhi); Dr. Vimala Ramachandran (Education Resource Unit, Delhi); Professor TS Saraswathi (Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda); Professor Vinay Srivastava (University of Delhi)

How to Apply?

Applicants are requested to send their curriculum vitae, a brief research proposal and/or a clear statement of purpose of not more than 500 words, detailing the reasons for wanting to attend the festival and describing the research idea they wish to pursue.

They must clearly state which Bloc(s) they are interested in opting for. Those wishing to opt for Bloc 3 are required to submit along with other application materials a draft version of a full length research paper (approximately 7500 words). Papers that lend themselves to publication will be selected for submission as a special issue in a reputed peer-reviewed journal. Selection of participants will be made on the basis of the aforementioned application materials.

The course fee for a 4 credit course is Rs. 4000. The course fee for a 2 credit course is Rs. 2000. Boarding and lodging expenses are additional to this. A number of fee waivers and bursaries towards travel and boarding and lodging expenses are available. Those who want to be considered for these must mention this specifically in their applications.

Application materials should be clearly labeled 'Social Science Research Methods Festival' and sent by email to ambedkaruniversitydelhi[at]gmail.com. The last date for submission of application materials is 25 October 2010. For details regarding the festival schedule, boarding and lodging expenses and registration, please keep visiting this website for updates. For specific queries, please contact the Organising Committee at researchcentre.aud[at]gmail.com / asmita.kabra[at]gmail.com.

Further Details

Workshop on Towards a Knowledge Economy

Workshop on Towards a Knowledge Economy

Dates: 18-20 November 2010

Venue: International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi

Organized by Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology (CMIT), IMI, New Delhi

Supported by Department of Information Technology, GoI & Project on National Competitiveness in the Knowledge Economy

Workshop Objectives

The Workshop will discuss issues and recommendations relating to the following topics:

• Mapping the directions of transition from industrial economy to knowledge economy.
• Developing strategies of change management for transformation from industrial age to information age.
• Identifying new knowledge streams/ disciplines likely to emerge in the evolving knowledge economy and suggesting specialized courses to help meet manpower requirements of the knowledge economy.
• Generating deeper understanding, among key stakeholders, of the scope and significance of Knowledge, Technology, R&D and Innovation management for the emerging knowledge economy, and developing model course curricula for adoption by other knowledge institutions.
• Anticipating trends and identifying issues for formulating policy initiatives.
• Creating a network of knowledge institutions.
• Promoting the use of Knowledge Management as a tool for securing larger good of the society.

Contents

For pursuing its objectives, the Workshop will structure its discussions as follows:

• Recommendations for use by the government as input for making necessary policies and programs for the Knowledge Economy.
• A template for collaborative and cooperative synergy amongst Industry-Academia-Government-Society for realizing a knowledge economy.
• Identification of new streams/disciplines for the emerging knowledge economy.
• Short-courses / MDPS in Knowledge Technology R&D and Innovation Management for key decision makers.

Methodology

The Workshop will be conducted in an interactive mode through a mix of presentations and discussions. Eminent experts from academia, business & industry, industry associations, government, NGOs and international agencies are being invited to write and submit discussion notes/concept papers/thought papers/research papers for sharing their expertise and perceptions. In each technical session, a Discussant will present a composite summary of all the notes and papers pertaining to that session. The subject will then be thrown open for discussion by the participants. In order that the sessions should lead to draft recommendations, the technical sessions will focus on discussing recommendations rather than individual papers. Towards the end, sessions will be devoted to formulation and finalization of recommendations.

Target Group

Participation is invited from those who have been working on knowledge related issues and hope to contribute meaningfully to the discussions. They are expected to be working in the government/government bodies, educational and research institutions, public/ private sector units, voluntary agencies/ NGOs and other relevant organizations.

Participation Arrangements

There is no participation fee. Participants are expected to report at the venue half an hour before the commencement of the Workshop on the first day and attend all the sessions up to the close of working hours on the final day.

Nominations for Participation
Nominations for intending participants should be sent by their heads of divisions/ departments/ organizations by post as also by e-mail so as to reach latest by 29 October 2010, giving the following particulars:

• Name of the nominee
• Designation, division/department and organization
• Office address
• Phone number
• Residential address and Phone number
• Email ID

Nominations should be addressed to:
Mr. S.N. Zindal
Project Consultant (CMIT)
International Management Institute
B-10 Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi 110016
Email: snzindal[at]gmail.com, Phone: 09810040160/ 011-46013050

Quality Over Quantity: How Many Universities India Has is Less Important than How Good They Are

Quality Over Quantity: How Many Universities India Has is Less Important than How Good They Are

by
Bhaskar Dutta

The QS ranking of world universities was released recently. Like all such rankings,this one too has many critics who question its methodology and hence the accuracy of its ranking.But Indian universities and educational institutions fare far too badly for this to be attributed to faulty methodology.The highest-ranked Indian institution is IIT Mumbai, with a rank of 187 in the world. What is perhaps more disheartening is that 35 other Asian institutions have been ranked above it.Clearly,we are falling far behind even countries like South Korea,Thailand,Malaysia and,of course,China and Japan in higher education.

Why should we care whether we have a world-class university when we do not have enough primary schools and inadequate healthcare facilities This may well be the reaction of large numbers of Indians,who view top-quality higher educational institutions as a luxury good that cannot be afforded by developing countries.Unfortunately,this is an extremely myopic view.The absence of Harvards and Cambridges in India has resulted in gigantic outflows of the best Indian students leaving the country to study abroad.In fact,sometimes i feel that i hear more students speaking in Hindi on the University of Warwick campus than,for instance,in the Delhi School of Economics!
This migration would not have mattered if it had been temporary.It is not an overwhelming fraction of Indians who go abroad to study do not return to India.The sheer magnitude of the brain drain from India is mind-boggling.India does benefit from their presence abroad through remittances and goodwill earned overseas.But we suffer a far bigger loss because the direct benefits of their skills as managers,doctors,innovators and researchers accrue to the countries where they reside.
The UPA government started its second innings with the promise to build several world-class universities.We have not yet been told how it intends to keep its promise although half its term is over.Perhaps,the government believes that all it has to do is construct some new buildings and the rest will follow.But what we actually need is a dramatically new approach.
The strategy followed so far in developing higher education in India has been to gradually increase the number of universities,all of them with roughly the same scale of facilities.This emphasis on quantity has had a deplorable effect on quality because resources have been spread too thinly.Even the most well-funded university or research institute in India receives no more than a fraction of the funds available to comparable institutions in several Asian countries.
Consider,for example,the salaries on offer in Indian universities.Despite the quite large increase in salaries after the last pay commission report,university salaries remain grossly inadequate compared to remunerations available elsewhere.A bright young researcher who,after finishing a PhD abroad,has just received an assistant professorship in any North American university would have to attach an exceedingly high premium to the intangible joys of working back home in order to actually return to India.
Is it surprising then that even leading universities and research institutes find it impossible to reverse the brain drain Similarly,a comparison of salaries in the corporate world with those in academia explains why increasingly large numbers of bright students opt for a career in the private sector instead of entering academia.
Of course,salaries are just one component of what young researchers look for when they evaluate alternative job offers.Although the internet,skype and e-mail have made the world a smaller place,it is imperative for young academics to have generous research grants so as to be able to travel abroad to attend conferences and workshops,to collaborate with foreign co-authors.Experimental scientists need state-of-the art laboratories.Which Indian university offers these facilities. So,the financial requirements of world-class universities are very large.This means that the only feasible option is to discard the current policy of uniformity same salary scale,same rules regarding travel grants,etc,across all universities.Instead,the government should build perhaps three or four universities with research facilities and salaries comparable to the best in Asia.Moreover,these universities must be truly autonomous institutions.And they must be completely free from the draconian formulaic regime imposed by the UGC in particular and the government in general.For example,imagine that Harvard wants to hire an outstanding young academic as an associate professor,but is unable to do so because the person has not completed eight years after his PhD!
Ideally,these universities should have both undergraduate and graduate programmes.Moreover,the size of the undergraduate programme should be sufficiently small so that the entire teaching is done by the graduate faculty instead of being farmed out to affiliated colleges.This practice,which has also been advocated by the vice-chancellor of Delhi University in a recent newspaper article, will improve the quality of undergraduate teaching dramatically.
Of course,this will mean inequality in the education sector both in terms of the quality of teaching available to students as well as the remuneration package available to faculty.This will inevitably attract the charge of elitism.Unfortunately,this is the additional price which has to be paid for setting up world-class universities!

The writer is professor, University of Warwick.

Source: Times of India, 21 September 2010

Gambling with Science by Daniel Lyons

Friends Without Benefits: The sad truth about Facebook

by Daniel Lyons

From focusing on hard science, today the Silicon Valley has become a casino, a place where smart kids arrive hoping to make an easy fortune.

The people who run Facebook, the social-networking company, are furious about a new movie that takes lots of liberties in its depiction of how Facebook came into existence. They're upset because much of The Social Network, which opens Oct. 1, is just completely made up. That's fair enough. But to me, the really interesting thing about this movie is that while much of the tale is invented, the story tells a larger truth about Silicon Valley's get-rich-quick culture and the kind of people—like Facebook's 26-year-old founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg—who thrive in this environment.
The Valley used to be a place run by scientists and engineers, people like Robert Noyce, the Ph.D. physicist who helped invent the integrated circuit and cofounded Intel. The Valley, in those days, was focused on hard science and making things. At first there were semiconductors, which is how Silicon Valley got its name; then came computers and software. But now the Valley has become a casino, a place where smart kids arrive hoping to make an easy fortune building companies that seem, if not pointless, at least not as serious as, say, old-guard companies like HP, Intel, Cisco, and Apple.
The three hottest tech companies today are Facebook, Twitter, and Zynga. What, exactly, do they do? Facebook lets you keep in touch with your friends; for this profound service to mankind it will generate about $1.5 billion in revenue this year by bombarding its 500 million members with ads. Twitter is a noisy circus of spats and celebrity watching, and its hapless founders still can't figure out how to make money. That hasn't stopped venture capitalists from funding dozens of companies that make little apps that work with Twitter, just as they're also funding countless companies that make apps for Apple's iPhone, and just as, a few years ago, they were all funding companies that made applications to run on Facebook. Zynga, the biggest of those Facebook app-makers, reportedly will rake in $500 million this year by getting people addicted to cheesy games like Farmville and Mafia Wars, then selling "virtual goods" to use inside the games.
Meanwhile, among some longtime techies, there's a sense that something important has been lost.
"The old Silicon Valley was about solving really hard problems, making technical bets. But there's no real technical bet being made with Facebook or Zynga," says Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer at Microsoft who now runs an invention lab in Seattle. "Today almost everyone in the Valley will tell you there is too much ‘me-tooism,' too much looking for a gold rush and not enough people who are looking to solve really hard problems."
Sure, there are still entrepreneurs and investors chasing serious technology challenges in the Valley. And Myhrvold says he means no disrespect to Facebook and Zynga, which have had clever ideas and are making loads of money.
"What bothers me is the zillions of wannabes who will follow along, and the expectation that every company ought to be focused on doing really short-term, easy things to achieve giant paydays. I think that's unrealistic, and it's not healthy," Myhrvold says.
His company, Intellectual Ventures, intentionally runs counter to the prevailing trend in Silicon Valley. The only problems it tries to solve are ones that seem overwhelmingly difficult. These include creating a new kind of nuclear reactor and developing technologies that could address climate change and eradicate malaria.
Myhrvold doesn't have problems raising money. He made a fortune at Microsoft and is a close friend of Bill Gates. But he worries about "the unknown engineers and professors who have good ideas. Are those people going to get funded or will they be talked out of it and told they should do something like Zynga, because virtual goods is where it's at these days?"
The risk is that by focusing an entire generation of bright young entrepreneurs on such silly things, we'll fall behind in creating the fundamental building blocks of our economy. The transistor and the integrated circuit gave rise to the last half century of prosperity. But what comes next? "If we distract people with the lure of easy money, with making companies that don't solve anything hard, we're going to wind up derailing the thing that has been driving our economy," Myhrvold says.
We've already fallen behind in areas like alternative energy, better batteries, and nanotechnology. Instead of racing to catch up, we're buying seeds and garden gnomes on Facebook. This won't end well.

Daniel Lyons is also the author of Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs and Dog Days: A Novel.

Source: The Newsweek

Training Program on "Interfacing Social Sciences with Management Education"

Training Program on "Interfacing Social Sciences with Management Education"
Dates: 20-22 October 2010
Venue: International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi
Organized by Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology (CMIT), IMI
Sponsored by Technology Management Programme Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, GoI

The Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology (CMIT) of the International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi is organizing a Training Program on "Interfacing Social Sciences with Management Education". An Announcement Brochure of the Program outlining its objectives, contents and methodology is now available.
The three-day program is proposed to be organized from 20-22 October, 2010 at the International Management Institute, New Delhi. Financial assistance for organizing the Program is being extended by the Technology Management Programme Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.
The need for providing better understanding of social sciences in management education and integrating social sciences seamlessly with management education cannot be overemphasized. If this is to happen the agents of change will be teachers of management and indeed social scientists who are fully sensitized to the issues of social sciences as they impinge on the preparation of managers and can bring about needed curriculum changes, without, of course, compromising on the management content. The purpose of the program is to develop awareness and sensitizing teachers of management programs to a host of issues relating to society so as to enable them to make curriculum changes and implement them.
An research or higher education institution can nominate a senior functionary of their respective organization to participate in the Training Program. Organizers shall appreciate the contribution of their representative in presenting the perspective on the subject from the point of view of their organization in various sessions. There is no fee payable for participation. However, due to financial constraints, Organizers are unable to offer financial assistance to participants for travel, stay and related costs.
Last date for sending nomination is 11 October 2010.

Program Brochure and Nomination Form can be obtained from Ms. Mamta Bhatnagar.

Seeking Suggestions/Views on the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2010

Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment and Forests Invites Suggestions/Views on the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2010

1. The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2010, as introduced and pending in Lok Sabha has been referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment and Forests headed by Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy, M.P. (Rajya Sabha), for examination and report.
2. The Bill seeks to establish an Academy for furtherance of the advancement of learning and promotion of research in the field of science and technology in association with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and to declare the institution known as the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, to be an institution of national importance, and to provide for its incorporation and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Academy is proposed to be set up for substantially increasing the number of researchers in integrative and inter-disciplinary areas of science and engineering in a cost effective manner without requirement of any significant gestation period and additional funds from the Government.
3. In order to have wider consultations, the Committee has decided to invite memoranda containing suggestions/views/comments of experts/ institutions/organizations interested in the subject matter of the Bill.
4. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may send their written comments/ suggestions either in English or Hindi to Shri V.S.P. Singh, Joint Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Room No. 142, First Floo/; Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001, [Tel: 23035411(0), Fax No.: 011-23013917, 011-23011245, email: rsc-st[at]sansad.nic.in within 15 days from the date of publication of this advertisement. Those who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence besides submitting the memoranda may indicate so. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final.
5. The memoranda submitted to the Committee, would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as confidential and would enjoy privileges of the Committee.
6. The Bill has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part II, Section 2, dated the 30th July, 2010. Copies of the Bill may be obtained on written request from the Assistant Director (S&T) , Rajya Sabha Secretariat Cabin 'F', Committee Complex, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-11 0001, or can be downloaded from the official website of the Rajya Sabha (httg://rajyasabha.nic.in) under the heading 'Bills with the Committee'.

Website: http://raiyasabha.nic.in Email: rsc-st[at]sansad.nic.in

Parliament of India || Rajya Sabha Secretariat davp 31202/11/0019/1011

Download Draft Bill

Conference on Digital Archiving of Community Knowledge

Conference on Digital Archiving of Community Knowledge

Organized by Centre for Community Knowledge, Ambedkar University, Delhi

15-18 December 2010

Theme
The conference will deliberate on systems and methods of collecting, documenting and applying Knowledge located and embedded in people and communities. Such knowledge is location and context specific and grows in the processes of its acquisition, use and dissemination by members of the community in changing social, political, cultural and economic contexts.
The challenge is to archive such knowledge, usually oral, in a form that can link to acquisition, use and dissemination in modes compatible with formal, academic, multi-disciplinary and institutional processes. Effort must be made to ensure that such archives are available to the communities concerned to enable them to enrich their own repositories of knowledge.
The conference is being organized in collaboration with the World Oral Literatures Project, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge UK.
In the context of the conference, what we refer to as Community Knowledge has also been called Traditional Knowledge, Oral Knowledge, Grass-roots Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, etc. The areas covered under this rubric include:

• Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of cultural heritage
• Performing arts, such as traditional music, dance and theater
  
• Social practices, rituals and festive events
• Knowledge and practices concerning life, nature and the universe
• Plastic Arts and Traditional craftsmanship.

The Conference will be of interest to:

• The Communities concerned who wish to document such knowledge
• Field workers who collect such knowledge
• System designers engaged in database management, who can contribute to an open-source design solution, catering to large quantities of video and audio data, in addition to images and documents.
• Scholars and researchers interested in linking their disciplinary knowledge with oral community knowledge.
  

Topics
Digital archiving entails discussion on a matrix of three linked aspects:

1. Data and Information Collection: What and how to document – who decides?
2. Documentation/ Archiving: Design parameters of MIS (storage and retrieval); Classification and Codification; Open Source Technology Platforms.
3. Users of Archives: Researchers, Scholars, Policy makers and the Communities concerned. They would suggest Retrieval Taxonomy/ Thematic aggregations and the level of detail expected from the Archives.
   

The Conference will be conducted in an interactive mode following presentations by Keynote speakers like Dr Mark Turin of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, and Dr Kim Fortun of the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.
If you are interested in attending the conference, please submit a short statement of interest (300 words) and a brief CV to Akha Mao (kaihriimao[at]@gmail.com) by 30 September 2010. Invitations to attend the Conference will be despatched by 15 October 2010.
The language of the Conference will be English.

Further Details

oikos Winter School 2010 ...beyond sustainability: A Critical Dialogue Between Culture and Economics

oikos Winter School 2010: ... beyond sustainability: A Critical Dialogue Between Culture and Economics

A student conference going beyond the surface of sustainable development in economics, culture and politics.

Venue: University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany

Dates: 7-13 November 2010

What's it all about?
Between November 7th and 13th 2010 the oikos Winter School welcomes 25-30 highly engaged students and young professionals from all over the world on the beautiful campus of Witten/Herdecke University situated in the heart of Europe's capital of culture 'Ruhr 2010'.
The Winter School 2010 aims to provide a platform to enter into a critical dialogue between culture and economics allowing new perspectives on sustainability that are not merely an add-on, but a cultural process in and between different societies.
In a week full of reflection, boosting inspiration and forward-thriving action our participants will gain a deeper, more critical and sustainable perception of the world that will enable them to act as circulators and change agents for sustainable development in economics and culture.
A constituent part of the Winter School will be the conveyance of practical skills to create and implement participant's sustainable project ideas as well as a methodological approach to art as a way towards new and innovative ideas.

Application
You can apply for the oikos Winter School 2010 until the 1st of October 2010.

Application Details

Further Details

CfP:: Science Communication Without Frontiers -- 11th International Conference on Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCST-2010)

Science Communication Without Frontiers - The 11th International Conference on Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCST-2010)

Dates: 6-10 December 2010

Venue: Pusa Complex, New Delhi, India

Organized by
International Network on Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCST-Network)
National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC/ DST)
and others

Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCST) is important for the economic and social wellbeing of society and for the exercise of participatory democracy. It implies the ability to respond to technical issues and problems that pervade our daily lives. It does not mean detailed knowledge of scientific principles, phenomena or technologies, but rather an appreciation of the way science works and how the community can interact with science to help shape its work. New technologies and new media can trigger and sustain public interest in S&T, allowing a dialogue to developing and preparing the people for change.

The 11th PCST Conference will deliberate on both practical and theoretical aspects of science communication, in a globalised world with major inequalities and development challenges. Science communication practitioners and analysts from all continents will compare experiences and perspectives on science-based issues of today and tomorrow.
India, one of the most emerging economies, is uniquely positioned to host a discussion on the role of science in modern society. Poised between modern and developing nations, India represents the future: a world where everything is under challenge including the old frontiers.

Objectives:

The aim of 11th PCST-2010 is to consider new ways of thinking about science communication, and new ways of putting the best ideas into practice, models, tools, policy matters and social factors involved in public communication of science and technology. In the footsteps of previous conferences in Malmo/Copenhagen (2008), Seoul (2006), Barcelona (2004), Cape Town (2002) and before, the Conference will provide an opportunity for the presentation and open discussion of all kinds of ideas, experiences and works related to science communication, popularisation and literacy.

Focal Theme and Sub Themes: The focal theme of the conference is 'Science Communication Without Frontiers'. Five Scientific Sessions with the following Sub Themes will be organized:

1. A Critical Review of Science Communication in the World
2. Science Communication Studies & Research
3. Role of Science Centres & Science Museums
4. Science Communication through Mass Media
5. Globalizing & Localizing Science Communication
   

Call for Proposals

The PCST Network, founded in 1989, aims at promoting public communication of science and technology, encouraging discussion on PCST related issues, and linking practices and theories in varied cultures and countries. The proposals for the 11th PCST 2010 Conference are welcome from individuals, or from groups who wish to propose a joint session. They may cover any of the following aspects of science communication:

• Public engagement strategies; Media representations; New media challenges and opportunities; Theories and models of science communication; Evaluation of public engagement initiatives; Public literacy and understanding; and Informal learning.

Proposals may be put forward for several forms of presentation, such as a paper that outlines research results, offers substantive theoretical reflection or proposes or evaluates practical initiatives. It may also be a proposal for a seminar on research or theory with details of participants and the topics; a workshop that explores and demonstrates practical techniques; an argument that could be included in a round-table debate; a poster that graphically summarises work-in-progress. Members of the PCST Scientific Committee will review the submitted proposals. Special consideration will be given to proposals that link theory and practice, incorporate different disciplines, explore cross-cultural dimensions of science communication and encourage discussions. The proposal template can be downloaded from the website.

Travel Fellowship

There is some provision of travel fellowships for Indian delegates. International delegates will make their own travel arrangements, except specially invited speakers. The organizers may consider providing local hospitality, i.e. stay, meals, local transport, etc., for some selected foreign delegates. Information on travel fellowships for the delegates from developing countries will be available latter on the website in case there is a possibility.

Time Line

• Last date for Submission of Proposals (500 words) - August 31, 2010
• Last Date for Application for Travel Fellowship - August 31, 2010
• Intimation of acceptance of Abstracts - September 30, 2010
• Last Date for Submission of Full Paper - October 31, 2010

Further Details

Just Published -- ICTs and Urban Microenterprises: Identifying and Maximizing Opportunities for Economic Development

ICTs and Urban Microenterprises: Identifying and Maximizing Opportunities for Economic Development - Final Report

By
P. Vigneswara Ilavarasan and Mark R. Levy

July 2010, IDRC Canada

This publication reports on a research project financed by Canada's International Development Research Centre (www.idrc.ca).

Executive Summary

The research reported here was guided by three questions: (1) What are the current and potential patterns of mobile phone, landline, PC, and Internet café use among urban microentrepreneurs? (2) Are mobile phones, PCs, and Internet cafés related to the stability or growth of urban microenterprises? (3) Can we identify those urban microentrepreneurs and/or microenterprises for which ICT use is associated with economic growth? We conducted in-depth interviews in Mumbai City, India, with 329 male owners or managers of microenterprises and 231 female owners of microenterprises from April through June 2009. In addition, data from a convenience sample of 102 men and women was carried out in September and November 2009. We defined microenterprises as businesses that had more than one but fewer than twenty hired workers. We found that:

• Nearly everyone who owned or managed a microenterprise—regardless of sex—had a mobile phone.
• Many female and male microentrepreneurs who owned or managed microenterprises and who used a mobile for business communication reported that the year-over-year income of their business had risen.
• Urban microentrepreneurs experience different levels of economic growth depending on how they use their mobiles for business communication.
• The positive impact of mobile phones on microenterprises might emerge only after two years of use. Microentrepreneurs who owned a mobile for two years or less saw some growth in business income; those who had begun to use their mobile more than two years earlier experienced even greater income growth.
• Levels of PC ownership and usage at home and work were low.
• Few microentrepreneurs frequented Internet cafés for business purposes.
• Only small numbers used their mobiles for the full range of business-enhancing activities.
• Consideration of a microentrepreneur’s full repertoire of ICT use showed a positive relationship with microenterprise growth, especially when other factors such as gender and motivation were also taken into account.
• Compared to women-owned microenterprises, microenterprises owned or managed by men had much greater increases in business income, although female owned microenterprises also experience some growth.
• The more positive a female microentrepreneur felt about her status and power because of her business, the more she was motivated to use ICTs in support of her business.
• The more that a woman entrepreneur used mobile phones, workplace computers, etc., the more her microenterprise grew, especially businesses in the trade sector of the informal economy.
  

Download Full Report: PDF

CSSP Working Paper "Globalisation, Innovation and Social Capital: Changing Nature of Indo-French S&T Cooperation"

CSSP Electronic Working Paper Series on S&T Policy and Innovation Studies

ISSN: 0976-2051

The CSSP Electronic Working Paper Series (EWPS) is intended to explore and debate themes in science, technology and innovation studies. While drawing into active dialogue of leading scholars and practitioners who share similar concerns, this effort will reflect the academic priorities of the CSSP.

Working Paper No. CSSPEWPS 2
Globalisation, Innovation and Social Capital: Changing Nature of Indo-French S&T Cooperation
by
Pranav N. Desai (Centre for Studies in Science Policy, JNU, India)

April 2010

Abstract: The present paper is an attempt to explore whether the Globalisation process has enhanced the significance of social capital as an explanatory variable of innovation. The focus of present paper is on the international dimensions of innovation policies that are likely to influence not only international investment decisions and competitive strategy but also technological change and development process. An attempt is made to analyze the changing nature of Indo-French S&T cooperation in the wider context of the Globalisation of innovation process and whether any discontinuity is likely to be introduced in the collaboration pattern and international cooperation policy. India and France provide an interesting background for the study of the same as India and France are emerging as major global players.

Download Full-text PDF

Working Paper No. CSSPEWPS 1
How Law Makes Technoscience: The Shaping of Expectations, Actors and Accountabilities in Regenerative Medicine in Europe
by
Alex Faulkner (King's College London, UK)
March 2010
Download Full-text PDF

Further Details

CfP:: National Bioethics Conference 2010: Governance of Healthcare – Ethics, Equity and Justice

National Bioethics Conference 2010: Governance of Healthcare – Ethics, Equity and Justice

17-20 November 2010

Venue: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Organized by Indian Journal of Medical Ethics (IJME)

In recent decades, the Indian health sector has seen revolutionary changes. With the wave of globalisation that has hit the country, world class technologies, super-specialities and big corporate and private sector hospitals have emerged. However, these are distanced from the country’s poor and needy. Globalisation has also paved the way for international collaborations in the field of research, service delivery and health education. Although significant achievements have been made, there are gaping holes and discrepancies in the public healthcare setup which caters to a significant proportion of the population. Keeping these facts in mind, the third NBC, on the theme Governance of healthcare: ethics, equity and justice, is being held at the AIIMS, New Delhi, the premier medical institute in the country.

NBC 3 aims to bring together diverse perspectives on governance in healthcare, towards building an equitable and just health system. It will provide a platform for achieving a productive dialogue between practitioners, administrators, policy-makers and activists towards this end.

Specific objectives:

• To bring together key institutions within the healthcare sector to engage with the issue of governance with a view to ensuring equity and justice for all.
• To enable emerging research in bioethics in India to be presented in a public forum and encouraging this research to be published in national and international journals so that it reaches a wider audience.
• To create a forum for organising skill-building and resource sharing in bioethics among different organisations and to enable dialogue between key stakeholders from India and abroad on a range of issues and from a range of perspectives with a view to enlighten healthcare practice, policy making and management from a bioethics perspective.
  

Call for Papers and proposals for workshops

The scientific committee of the Third National Bioethics Conference seeks abstracts of papers, and proposals for holding workshops, on topics relevant to bioethics. These must be in line with the conference theme: "Governance of healthcare – ethics, equity and justice."

Some issues which will be discussed in the conference:

• Universal healthcare
• Clinical research
• Stem cell research
• Indian systems of medicine
• Community participation
• Organ transplantation
• Medical education
• Medical tourism
• Healthcare reforms
• Regulation of healthcare
• Ethics committees
• Publication ethics
• Accreditation of health institutions
• Public-private partnerships
• Medical technologies (assisted reproduction, imaging technologies, etc)
  

Abstract and proposal deadline: August 15, 2010

Further Details