To celebrate forty years of School of Social Sciences, "Conference on Democracy Pluralism and Justiceis"; 29 February - 2 March 2012

Celebrating 40 years of School of Social Sciences

 

Conference on Democracy Pluralism And Justice:  Challenges for India in a Changing World

 

29 February – 2 March 2012

 

Venue: Committee Room 1, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Programme

• Session One - Wednesday • 29 February
• Democracy, Inclusion, Participation
• Session Two - Wednesday • 29 February
• Constitution, Laws and Democratic Norms
• Session Three - Thursday • 1 March
• New Landscapes of Inequality
• Session Four - Thursday • 1 March
• Shifting Social Dynamics
• Session Five - Friday • 2 March
• The Political Economy of Value, Distribution and Development: Commemorating Krishna Bharadwaj's contribution to social sciences

All are cordially invited

 

Further Details

 

CfP: Conference on Mobile Web Initiative in India; 15th March 2012, New Delhi

Conference on Mobile Web Initiative in India

15th March 2012

India Habitat Center, New Delhi

Organized by W3C India and IAMAI

India continues to be one of the world's fastest-growing telecommunications market due to a progressive regulatory regime, huge capital outlays for network expansion by operators, reductions in tariffs and cost of handsets. Accessing internet through mobile is seen as the future, hence enabling Indian languages on the mobile with parallel efforts enhancing the languages content on the web coupled by the development of various standards supporting these initiatives and our participation in such a global platforms is the ultimate long term goal. Interoperability is the key issue so that the dissemination of multilingual news and information can be handled seamlessly across service providers and variety of mobile available in the market. Creating Web content that works well on mobile devices is challenging for the majority of today's Web content creators, since most of them are more accustomed to creating content for desktop devices.
This conference will cover various issues and challenges like presentation issues, mobile keypads, text transmission etc in mobile web in Indian languages. The Conference seeks to inform practitioners about the potential challenges which can be encountered during the implementation of mobile applications in Indian languages. This conference also covers the future actions that could accelerate the adoption and impact of W3C standards in the development of mobile applications in Indian languages.

Objectives of the Conference :
1. The Conference seeks to inform Technology developer/Service providers about the potential challenges which can be encountered during the implementation of mobile applications in Indian languages.
2. The current challenges and barriers that limit the potential impact of mobile technology in development.
3. Development of M-Governance in India and its approaches to mainstreaming mobile delivery of services.
4. The future actions that could accelerate the adoption and impact of the mobile platform for development

Programme Sessions
Inaugural Session:
* Importance of local language in internet and mobile adoption.
* Moving away from exclusive to inclusive web with Indic;
* Opportunities in Local languages
Session 1 : "Challenges of Indic Adoption on Mobile Web
* Technology for enabling Indian Languages on Mobile Platform * Lack of multi standard interoperability
Session 2:"Best Practices for building Indic Web content for Mobile Web"
* Lack of Local Language support on commonly visited websites
* Lack of Discoverability of existing websites
Session 3 :"Enabling mobile & wireless handheld devices in Indian Languages"
* Indic as key to handset adoption
* Standardization in Text transmission in Indian Language
* Current barriers, challenges and limitations for rendering vernacular content
* Best practices of delivery in Mobile device in Indian languages
Session 4 :"Technology Demo for Deployment of Mobile Based Services"

Call for Speakers
To submit your request to be a speaker please send an email to w3cindiaoffice-dit@nic.in with the Subject Line:" Mobile Web Initiative in India" conference speaker submission. In the email be sure to include your contact information as well as the topic and abstract you are interested in speaking on.
We are looking for presentations that address the following topics :
1. Standardization of mobile keypads
2. Standardization in text transmission(SMS,MMS,IM) in Indian languages
3. Fonts and rendering issues in Indian languages
4. Current barriers and challenges in mobile web for Indian languages
5. Limitation of mobile devices while deploying mobile applications in Indian languages
6. Accessibility of mobile devices, services and content for people with disabilities
7. Best practices for delivery web contents in mobile devices in Indian languages
8. M-Governance in India
9. Mobile-OK Certification/Checker for Indian languages.

Online Registration

Further Details

2013 Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright Fellowships for Indian Citizens

2013 Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright Fellowships for Indian Citizens

Greetings from the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the Fulbright Commission in India!

I am happy to inform you that USIEF has announced its annual competition for Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright fellowships for Indian citizens for the academic year 2013-2014. Open to Indian students, academics, teachers, policy planners, administrators, and professionals, these fellowships are offered in all disciplines. Application due dates begin July 16, 2012. USIEF expects to offer approximately 100 Fulbright-Nehru fellowships for Indians in 2013.

Details about the fellowship programs, application procedure and guidelines, and the selection process are posted on the USIEF website http://www.usief.org.in. Please refer interested individuals to the USIEF website.

I appreciate your efforts to spread the word about Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowship opportunities.

USIEF thanks you for your support and cooperation. 

With best regards

Sincerely

Sarina Paranjape

Sarina Paranjape | Senior Program Officer (Indian Program) | United States-India Educational Foundation | 12 Hailey Road | New Delhi 110 001 | Phone: +91 11 4209 0909 | Fax: +91 11 2332 9718 | E-mail: ip@usief.org.in| Website: http://www.usief.org.in/

NEW! 2013-2014 Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright fellowships for study, research, teaching and professional development in the U.S. APPLY NOW! For details CLICK HERE

Orientation Programme on Ethics in Research on Human Subjects at JNU SLLC&S; 18 Feb

Institutional Ethics Review Board, Jawaharlal Nehru University

cordially invites you to

First Orientation Programme on Ethics in Research on Human Subjects

Date: 18 February 2012
Time: 10.00 to 17.30
Registration: 09.30

Venue: Committee Room, School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU

Registration by Email at ierbjnu@gmail.com

New Books of Pawan Sikka "Nuclear Crises in Japan: Lessons for India" and “Planning in India: Scientific Developments with National Five-Year Plans”

Sikka, Pawan (2012). Nuclear Crises in Japan: Lessons for India. New Delhi: Uppal Publishing. ISBN 13: 978-81-7658-068-7. INR 995/-

In the aftermath of the triple disaster – tsunami, earthquake and nuclear meltdown – in Japan, "safety of the nuclear power plants" has come under fire world-wide. The developing world including India needs to reconsider the locations of its nuclear plants before their installations in the country. With India focused entirely on growth, it is unprepared for such a devastation but has an ambitious projection of 6,55,000 MW nuclear energy generation capacity by 2050. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India has ordered undertaking the review of safety of all the (present and future) nuclear plants in India towards attaining peace and prosperity of the nation.

This book "Nuclear Crises in Japan: Lessons for India", is a companion volume to our earlier book "Nuclear Powered India, Indo-US Deal: NSG Clearance, Ushering in a New Dawn of the 21st Century". Both these books provide ready reference material to the students, researchers, nuclear policy planners, sociologists, history of science, environmentalists etc as they contain latest information on the status of the future of nuclear energy programmes in India and the lessons to be learnt from Japan. We have a duty to base our judgments on the best available information.

While we safeguard our interest, we do not miss on opportunities to become a major player in the global energy sector. A rewarding exercise towards a nuclear future of India.

 

Sikka, Pawan (2012). Planning in India: Scientific Developments with National Five-Year Plans. New Delhi: Uppal Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-81-7658-070-0. INR 995/-

Planning for Science and Technology (S&T) has become an important part of the national agenda, and, linking S&T with the national development, is a subject of increasing concern all over the world, which has gained momentum with the emerging scientific and technological revolution in the 21st century.

Planned development of Science and technology has played a vital role in the emergence of modern India, by devising and implementing new strategies for solving the emerging national problems, thus employing the combined strength of S&T with the socio-economic sectors. The utilisation of S&T has been accepted as one of the major national objectives towards attaining the overall progress in India.

"Planning in India: Scientific Developments with National Five-Year Plans", covers planning for science and technology, as an integral component of the India's National Five-Year Plans, from the very first five-year plan (1951-56) till date. The continuity of the planning process has created renewed national interest in the shaping of science in India. Besides, statistical profile as well as, budget-allocations for implementing the newer programmes and national policy declarations enacted from time to time, for the promotion of science and technology, which can be taken as an indication of national commitment towards the socio- economic development of India.

A useful reference book for the policy planners, researchers, science policy analysts, scientific establishments, industry, social-scientists, economists, public administrators, etc as well as, for a cross-section of the academicians, both in India and abroad. It is a unique book.

 

Further Details

 

Article "Climate Policy in India: What Shapes International, National and State Policy?" by Manish K. Shrivastava of CSSP, et al

Climate Policy in India: What Shapes International, National and State Policy?

by Aaron Atteridge, Manish Kumar Shrivastava, Neha Pahuja and Himani Upadhyay

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 41(S1), 68-77, DOI: 10.1007/s13280-011-0242-5

Abstract
At the international level, India is emerging as a key actor in climate negotiations, while at the national and sub-national levels, the climate policy landscape is becoming more active and more ambitious. It is essential to unravel this complex landscape if we are to understand why policy looks the way it does, and the extent to which India might contribute to a future international framework for tackling climate change as well as how international parties might cooperate with and support India's domestic efforts. Drawing on both primary and secondary data, this paper analyzes the material and ideational drivers that are most strongly influencing policy choices at different levels, from international negotiations down to individual states. We argue that at each level of decision making in India, climate policy is embedded in wider policy concerns. In the international realm, it is being woven into broader foreign policy strategy, while domestically, it is being shaped to serve national and sub-national development interests. While our analysis highlights some common drivers at all levels, it also finds that their influences over policy are not uniform across the different arenas, and in some cases, they work in different ways at different levels of policy. We also indicate what this may mean for the likely acceptability within India of various climate policies being pushed at the international level.

More...

Article "Uncommon Identities: Approaching the Aadhar (UID) Scheme as a Digital Commons" by Ravi Shukla of CSSP

Uncommon Identities: Approaching the Aadhar (UID) Scheme as a Digital Commons

by
Ravi Shukla

Common Voices, Issue 8, 2011

One of the thumb rules in the design and implementation of large technical systems is the inclination to keep the social problem distinct from the technical one. However, since the two are generally interrelated, it often results in efforts to address the social problem by solving the technical one.
Technically, while a more detailed feasibility study is in order, given current standards and tools for exchanging information across diverse systems, as well as the extensive mobile communication infrastructure available, it may be more feasible to implement community based smaller, scalable systems. These systems may interface with, and periodically populate, a central database with basic identity information while still retaining ownership of the more detailed data.

Download Full-text PDF

NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2012

Science and Engineering Indicators 2012
by
National Science Board/ National Science Foundation, USA

A broad base of quantitative information on the U.S. and International science and engineering enterprise

Chapters

• Elementary and Secondary Mathematics and Science Education
• Higher Education in Science and Engineering
• Science and Engineering Labor Force
• Research and Development: National Trends and International Comparisons
• Academic Research and Development
• Industry, Technology, and the Global Marketplace
• Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding
• State Indicators

Download Full-text PDF

New UNDP Book "Technological Cooperation and Climate Change: Issues and Perspectives"

Technological Cooperation and Climate Change: Issues and Perspectives

Working papers presented at the MoEF-UNDP Consultation on Technology Cooperation for Addressing Climate Change

New Delhi: UNDP, 2011

Table of Contents

• Foreword by Ministry of Environment and Forests
• Foreword by UNDP
• Chapter 1 : Technology Cooperation for Addressing Climate Change by Preeti Soni
• Chapter 2 : Climate Technology Needs for India by Ambuj Sagar
• Chapter 3 : Mechanisms for International Cooperation in Research and Development in the Area of Climate Change by Carlos M. Correa
• Chapter 4 : Climate Change, Technology and IPR by Martin Khor
• Chapter 5 : Enabling Policies for Technology Transfer in the Context of Climate Change by Biplove Choudhary and K.M. Gopakumar
• Chapter 6 : International Financing Instruments for Meeting Technology Needs by Martin Krause

Download Full-text PDF

Just published "ISIS Current Bibliography of the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences, 2011"

ISIS Current Bibliography of the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences, 2011

Source: Isis, Vol. 102, No. S1, 2011 Current Bibliography (December 2011), pp. i-327

Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society

The Isis Current Bibliography of the History of Science was begun in 1913 by the historian of science George Sarton as part of his new journal Isis. It seeks to provide, each year, a comprehensive survey of the most recent work done in the history of science and allied fields. It covers all time periods and all disciplines and strives to be truly international in scope. Below, readers will find information on the use and structure of the bibliography as well as directions for access to the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine database, which includes this bibliography, and to other bibliographic sources in the history of science and related fields.
As with all such projects, there are limitations, and certain fields of study are not fully covered. In addition, the many journals that are peripheral to our field cannot be surveyed each year. There is sometimes a longer lag time for works published in those forums as well as for works published by presses outside of North America because access is often more difficult. Individual contributions are always welcome.

New in 2011
Once again the bibliography has expanded. Like last year, the volume contains over 4100 classified entries and over 1000 reviews. What makes this volume physically much larger, however, are the contents lists that accompany the edited book entries. There are 2000 chapters included in this volume and almost half of them are classified.
The bibliography also has greater diversity this year. At the end of last year, I made an appeal to the membership of the History of Science Society to send me citations. I received so great a response that my assistants and I have not been able to enter all of them yet. Frequently, one citation led to several others when we would discover a book or a journal that had articles besides the one we went to get.
I wish to thank all of those contributors, and I apologize to you if your entries didn't make it into this year's bibliography. Rest assured that they will appear next year. Let me make a further appeal for contributions. If you know of works that should be included, don't hesitate to contact me.
A new and growing bibliography that I have helped build this past year is the World History of Science Online website, http://www.dhst-whso.org/. This past summer, I worked with two graduate students to develop a classification structure for internet resources. My assistants found, described, and classified over 300 items. During the next few years, this site will grow as a bibliography for scholarly online resources in history of science. This site is supported by the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science/Division of History of Science and Technology (IUHPS/DHST).

Stephen P. Weldon, Editor

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Working paper "Determinants of drug launch delay in pre-TRIPS India: A survival analysis approach" by Saradindu Bhaduri & Thomas Brenner

Determinants of drug launch delay in pre-TRIPS India: A survival analysis approach

by Saradindu Bhaduri, and Thomas Brenner

Philipps-Universität Marburg, Working Paper # 05.11

Abstract:
The dynamics of drug launch has been an under-researched area. Most of the studies in this field focus on developed countries, quite uniform in terms of disease profile and regulatory framework, and analyse whether stringency in regulation influences launch delay. Developing countries, in contrast, have diverse disease profiles and weaker forms of regulation. A limited set of studies, undertaken in recent years, on the diffusion of new drugs in developing countries indeed conjectures importance of such factors in shaping drug launch dynamics. We investigate the delay of new drug launch in India for drugs launched in the German market during 1990-2004, when, due to weak IPR, not only the innovators but also the domestic firms could launch new drug molecules in the country, making drug launch dynamics interesting to explore. The paper finds that global commercial success of a new drug, market share, first mover advantage, and the threat of imposition of strong IPR system shortens delay. Innovativeness of a new drug, surprisingly, does not have much significant impact on delay.

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New book "Environment, Technology and Development: Critical and Subversive Essays' edited by Rohan D’Souza

Environment, Technology and Development: Critical and Subversive Essays

Edited by Rohan D'Souza

Orient Blackswan, 2012. ISBN : 978-81-250-4506-9

About the Book 
Drawn from the rich archival holdings of the Economic and Political Weekly, the essays in this volume capture the intense discussions in India that were debated as problems and questions over the environment, technology and development. As a collection, this volume proposes a fresh and new analytical coherence for these essays by resituating  them with an engaging  introduction under the broader themes of criticality and subversion. Consequently, these writings will speak not only to several contemporary academic and policy concerns but are also meant to provide a meaningful sense of how ideas on the environment, technology and development were interrelated and shaped in various types of political discourses in India, most notably from the 1970s onwards.
This volume is intended to address the needs of a rapidly growing interest in interdisciplinary programmes and will also carry appeal amongst development and policy practitioners and those who wish to pursue interdisciplinary research questions.

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CfPs: International Symposium "Anthropology of Global Issues"; 1-3 April 2012; Delhi

International Symposium "Anthropology of Global Issues"

1-3 April 2012

at Conference Centre, University Delhi-110007, India

organized by WCAA-ASA-IAS
& Indian Anthropological Association & Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi.

Call for Papers
Last Date for Submission of Abstract: 10th February 2012

Anthropologists' continued engagement with micro-macro interface, in its efforts to emerge as a generalizing science of human experiences, has instilled the required skills among its practitioners to deal with emerging questions that contemporary societies encounter in globalizing era. Recent advances in information technology creating a kind of viable world communication network has led to the creation of ' world community of anthropologists' engaged in a critical reflections and creative sharing on issues that convey greater meaning in cross cultural perspectives. Though envisioning a strong and vibrant ' global anthropology ' might not appear to be free from hegemonic influence over global south and therefore becomes problematic, negotiations are already underway towards a creative synthesis of insights from regional and national anthropologies for a potential world platform which is not far from reality. This becomes more significant in term of changing power equations globally where the North-South divide is getting increasingly obliterated.
Globalization offers fresh challenges for humanity across race, ethnicity, cultures, regions, and nations. New forces of economy, technology, polity and market have brought human destiny to a crossroad. Climate change, food insecurity, water scarcities, natural disasters, war, ethnic strife and violence, terrorism, tourism, migration and population displacement are phenomena of serious concern that need to be addressed from perspectives that offer comparative and critical understanding of views from within and the indigenous strategies to cope up within broader contexts. Conventional concepts of anthropology like culture, society, community and boundaries stand decosntructed and fresh theoretical debates need to be negotiated across academic tables, to look for a future anthropology of new discourses.
WCAA with its wide membership from different corners of the world has made the first step in this regard. Needless to mention that the collective voice of the world council has further strengthened the regional or lesser known concerns thereby creating a space for the marginal and often unheard academic and political initiatives for enriching and empowering the discipline. The Symposium proposes to engage in a cross -cultural debate on emergent global Issues informed through local ethnographies, informed by all branches of anthropology but also going beyond the disciplinary boundaries to reach out to the insights that civil society engagements with policy and practice offer in different national traditions.
IAS & IAA also seek panel proposals from Indian Scholars till 10 February 2012 in All Branches of Anthropology revolving around the symposium theme (with an abstract of 300 words).

Contact Person: Soumendra Mohan Patnaik
President, Indian Anthropological Association
Department of Anthropology,University of Delhi,India
Emails: iaadelhi@rediffmail.com  | copy marked to: smp_du@yahoo.com

Please indicate to which panel you are submitting your paper, choosing one of the panels below. If none of the panels matches your research interests, you can also submit a paper on the overall theme of the symposium (as above).
Please send the Title of the paper along with an abstract of 250 words latest by 10 February 2012 to iaadelhi@rediffmail.com with a copy marked to: smp_du@yahoo.com

Individual Panels within the WCAA Symposium
1)  Anthropology and Public Policy: Critical Perspectives and Productive
Interventions Chair: Greg Acciaioli
2)  Anthropology, Development and the Shaping of Globalization
Chair: Thomas Reuter
3)  Engaged Anthropology from a Global Perspective: Promise and Problems
Chair: Setha Low
4)  The growing power of IRBs and the issue of ethics for anthropology
worldwide Chair Andrew 'Mugsy' Spiegel
5)  Building a Network of Anthropologists Without Borders - ASF (Anthropologists Without Borders)
Chairs: Virginia F. Dominguez and Carlos Caroso

Further Details

CfPs: National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, 25-26 April 2012, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction

25-26 April 2012

Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

 

Background

Highly fragile eco-system coupled with physical, social and economic vulnerabilities grade India as one of the most multi-disaster prone countries of the world. Scenario necessitates to actively taking a holistic approach which encompasses all facets of disaster management in the country. We have travelled a long journey towards strengthening the institutional mechanism, response capacities and institutionalization of financial arrangement. Moving progressively forward, we have to continue with our new commitment and endeavor towards higher levels of understanding, preparedness, measures of mitigation and response mechanisms amongst multi stakeholders to achieve consolidated action to face the challenges of Natural Hazards and Unnatural Disasters.

In this process of moving forward, Ministry of Home Affairs along with the National Disaster Management Authority and the National Institute of Disaster Management, has envisaged to organize the First session of the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) from 25th - 26th April, 2012.

The NPDRR is considered as the national forum to bring together policy makers, disaster managers as well as academics for a thoughtful reflection, exchange the views, project the research findings along with explore windows for mutual cooperation in the field of Disaster Management and aligning with the provisions of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) to acts as coordination mechanism for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction measures into development planning, policies and programmes covering all issues and sectors including agriculture, education, energy, environment, housing, infrastructure, science and technology etc. so as to contribute in formulation of future plan. The first National Platform is dedicated to the theme of "Mainstreaming DRR in Development: From Risk to Resilience".

In the past, National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India organized India Disaster Management Congress (IDMC) with an objective to promulgate best practices on disaster management through knowledge sharing with various stakeholders of disaster management. Dignitaries like Hon'ble Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Hon'ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and UPA Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi had graced the occasion. It has been envisaged that IDMC and NPDRR be amalgamate into a single event to enhance participation, deliberate on the subject, exchange the views for taking disaster risk reduction in a coordinated manner. Therefore, all those who have been participating in IDMC earlier, are welcome to participate in the NPDRR.

 

Objectives of National Platform

• To anchor the knowledge and research in the domain of specific disciplines to provide greater interaction and interface amongst various the disciplines of disaster management.
• To enlarge the perspectives of research in particular disciplines and provide a holistic framework.
• To create a pool of resources of scientists, practitioners on DRR.
• To bring together organizations and individuals of diverse disciplines and sectors and in assembling, synthesizing, managing and further disseminating knowledge on disaster management in diverse sectors.
• To provide a platform where researchers and practitioners shall meet periodically, present their research papers, debate on the issues, lessons learnt-challenges encountered, shortcomings and opportunities and discuss the areas of mutual cooperation and road maps.

 

Partners

The National Platform is being hosted by Ministry of Home Affairs along with National Disaster Management Authority and National Institute of Disaster Management in collaboration with other national and international organizations. The Secretariat of the Platform is located at National Institute of Disaster Management.

 

Programme

The programme will include plenary, thematic sessions and exhibition on various aspects of disaster risk reduction.

 

Plenary Sessions - Themes

1 Economics of Natural and Un-natural Disasters - Vulnerability and Its Impacts.

2 Governance and Public Policy - Developing and Strengthening The Institutional Mechanism.

3 Addressing Disaster Risk - Prevention and Mitigation Efforts, Issues in Planning and Development and Evolving New Strategies

4 Knowledge Management and Capacity Building - Taking Them Forward.

5 Implementation issues - Views from States and Union Territories

 

Thematic Sessions - Clusters 

1 Awareness Campaign - Community and Safe Schools.

2 Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge in DRR.

3 Urban Risk Reduction-Safe Cities.

4 Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) & Long Term Recovery

5 Mass Casualty Management - Safe Hospitals and Psycho-social Care.

6 Risk Transfer Mechanism in Disaster Management.

7 Application of Weather Forecasting, Early Warning, Hazard Zonation, Space Technology and other Researches

8 Role of Media in Disaster Management.

9 Corporate Social Responsibility and Role of NGOs in Disaster Management.

10 Emerging Issues in Disaster Management.

 

Participation

The National Platform has been conceptualized as a national forum to bring together various stakeholders like policy makers, administrators, professional disaster managers, UN organisations, the World Bank, multilateral organisations, scientists, technocrats, academicians, corporate and private sectors, community leaders and NGOs into a comprehensive consultative process. The participants can contribute papers for presentation and take part in its proceedings.

 

Call of papers

Interested participants may submit the papers for which abstracts not exceeding 500 words either electronically or by post to the Secretariat on the subject of Plenary/Thematic sessions latest by February 29, 2012. Shortlisted author's abstracts/papers shall be required to submit their final paper(s). Detailed guidelines for paper and abstract submission are available here.

 

Inauguration & Valedictory Session

The Hon'ble President of India and the Hon'ble Prime Minister are being requested to inaugurate the occasion and to address the Valedictory Function respectively.

Hon'ble Home Minister, Vice Chairperson-NDMA and Ministers of State (Home) and other dignitaries are also being requested to be the Guest of Honour and would be further requested to preside over/address the session during the proceeding of events.

 

Registration

Participant Fee in (INR): Individual 1000; Student 500

Online registration will be accepted till April 20, 2012. Interested participants may please click here for online registration.

A nominal registration fee shall be charged to cover the expenses of programme kit, publications, lunch, tea/coffee and dinner etc. Registration fees may be remitted either by bank transfer or by post to the Secretariat through Cheque/Bank Draft in favour of National Institute of Disaster Management payable at New Delhi.

 

National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction Secretariat

National Institute of Disaster Management,

5-B, I. P. Estate, Ring Road,

New Delhi 110002, INDIA.

Tele-Fax: +91-11-23724308

Email: npdrr.india@gmail.com

Website: http://nidm.gov.in/npdrr

Call for Papers: Collaboration in International & Comparative Librarianship in Honour of Prof. S B Ghosh

Collaboration in International & Comparative Librarianship

Editors:

Susmita Chakraborty

North Bengal University, India

Anup Kumar Das 

CSSP, Jawaharlal National University, India

Call for Chapters:

Proposals Submission Deadline: January 15, 2012
Full Chapters Due: March 7, 2012

Dedication: 

This book on documenting international collaborations in the LIS field wishes to pay tribute to the lifelong contributions of Prof. S B Ghosh of India. Prof. Ghosh was former Professor and Head at Indira Gandhi National Open University and member of several IFLA sections.

International Advisory Board: 

Renowned LIS scholars of international acclaim form the Editorial Advisory Board. Their valuable suggestions are going to enrich this volume to a great extent.

The International Advisory Board is composed of the following members:

1.    Prof. Dan Dorner, School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

2.   Prof. A. Neelameghan, Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science,Bangalore, India 

3.    Prof. Anna Maria Tammaro, University of Parma, Italy 

4.   Prof. Gary E. Gorman, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

5.   Prof. G. G. Chowdhury, Centre for Information and Knowledge Management,University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

6.  Prof. Jaideep Sharma, School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India 

7. Dr. Dinesh Gupta, Dept. of Lib. & Inf. Sc.,  Vardhaman Mahavihar Open University, Kota, Rajasthan, India

8. Dr. Deva B. Eswara Reddy, Texas A & M University, Texas, United States

9. Diljit Singh,  Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology, University of Malaya, Malaysia

The Rationale behind the Book:

This book is an effort to document the many instances of collaborations in the international LIS scenario as well as to honour the lifelong contributions of Prof. (Dr.) S B Ghosh, the former Professor and Head of Indira Gandhi National Open University. Prof. Ghosh is one of the LIS scholars who are truly international in character. He has travelled widely all over the globe on academic purposes, taught in the universities of many countries, published scholarly articles in various journals and held responsible positions in national and international professional bodies. He is a Member of Standing Committee of SET and RSCAO of IFLA. Now is the right time to bring out a Volume of scholarly articles in honour of his long and worthy contribution to the field of Library & Information Science.

 We, the editors of this proposed volume, have chosen the field of International librarianship as befitting to the truly cosmopolitan and international outlook & work of Dr. S B Ghosh.

Scope of the Work:

With the advent of the Bologna Process, the importance of International librarianship has become a reality. One salient feature after the Bologna Declaration is the collaborative effort of the universities in UK and Italy. It has given credence to the level of cooperation and mutual exchange that can be achieved at the international level. Since then, many such instances have happened or are being nurtured for future occurrence. 

International librarianship consists of activities carried out among or between  governmental or non-governmental institutions, organizations, groups or individuals of two or more nations, to promote, establish, develop, maintain and evaluate library, documentation and allied services, and librarianship and the library profession generally, in any part of the world.

People Involvement: 

 This proposed volume will have contributions from LIS scholars from all over the globe. Our general idea is to include contributions from the teaching faculties of Departments of Library & Information Science of all continents. We also wish to include contributions from the leading LIS practitioners working in the academic/research/public libraries in different countries. Contributions coming from different professional organisations in the library & information science field are also very welcome. 

Expected Audience:

We hope that the outcome will be a scholarly reference work for the use of Gaduate and Post Graduate Students, Researchers, Teachers, LIS Administrators as well as all other activist and stakeholders of the concerned field.

Publisher:

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the "Information Science Reference" (formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2013.

Recommended Topics:

Collaboration at an international level can be written about from many perspectives, including (but not exclusive to) one or more of the following broader topic areas:

• Comparative Librarianship: Theories, Techniques, Technologies, Socio-economic factors, etc.
• International Librarianship: Theories, Techniques, Technologies, Socio-economic-cultural factors, etc.
• Influence of factors outside the LIS domain having significant contributions 
• South-South Cooperation and North-South Cooperation
• Learning from Developing Countries 
• Learning from Developed Countries 
• International and Bilateral Aid Programs
• Internationalisation of LIS Education
• Global Role of Open Source Software in Information Management 
• Role of Cultural & Information Agencies
• Role of Philanthropic Foundations
• Role of Specific Programs (such as Book Donations)  
• Role of International Non-Governmental Organisations in LIS
• Role of Regional/ National LIS Organisations 
• Role of Specialised International Organisations
• Collaborative authorship (papers) in LIS
• Role of regional and international conferences in LIS subjects
• Social networking on a regional / global scale among LIS professionals

Submission Deadlines:

Proposal Submission Deadline: January 15, 2012

Proposal Acceptance Notification: February 15, 2012

Full chapter Submission: March 30, 2012

Review Results to Authors: April 30, 2012

Revised Chapter Submission: May 30, 2012

           

Submission Guidelines:

Chapter Proposals in the form of extended abstracts of about 500 words as MS Word or RTF files are to be submitted to the editors by February 15, 2012.

Authors of the accepted proposals should send the full chapters to the editors in 8 1/2 x 11-inch pages, and figures, tables and charts in the following form and content:

 Text Format: .doc or .rtf

 Image Format: .tiff (tables/graphs, etc. along with text as well as separate .tiff files as   attachments)

 Reference Format: APA Style

The Authors will provide the manuscript text in electronic format as MS Word or RTF files and separate files for each figure saved in .tiff format. The Author will also provide hard copies of any chapters making excessive use of equations or symbols.

Review Process: 

The Proposals and Submitted Chapters will be subjected to blind peer review process and suggestions of reviewers should be incorporated by the authors. 

Submission Instructions:

LIS professionals willing to contribute chapters are requested to send Chapter Proposals to the editors by 15th January 2012 to sclis.india@gmail.com. 

Complimentary Copies:

The First Author will receive a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and 40% discount on any further copy.

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document):

Dr. Susmita Chakraborty

Mobile Phone: 91-9830710918

Department of Library & Information Science, 

North Bengal University, India

Email:Sclis.india@gmail.com

susmitachakraborty94@gmail.com

susmita.chakraborty@becs.ac.in

And 

Dr. Anup Kumar Das 

CSSP, Jawaharlal National University

New Delhi, India

Email: anupdas2072@gmail.com 

CfP: All India Privacy Symposium, Feb 04, IIC Delhi

All India Privacy Symposium

When: Feb 04, 2012

from: 09:30 AM to 05:00 PM

Where: India International Centre, New Delhi

Privacy India in partnership with the International Development Research Centre, Canada, Society in Action Group, Gurgaon, Privacy International, UK and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is organizing the All India Privacy Symposium at the India International Centre, New Delhi on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Since June 2010, Privacy India has been engaging in discussions with policy makers, the public and sectoral experts about privacy in India. The discussions have ranged from topics of identity and privacy, to minority rights and privacy, and consumer privacy. The findings of our research show that privacy was a neglected area of study for India in the past, however, this is changing. Advancements in technology, the introduction of e-governance initiatives like the National Fibre Optic Network, the introduction of new legislations, and debates surrounding national security, have brought privacy debates to the forefront in India. Although currently sectoral legislation deals with privacy issues, e.g., the Telegraph Act or RBI guidelines for banking, India has just begun to consider a horizontal legislation that deals comprehensively with privacy across all contexts. This conference is an opportunity to look forward to what could be the future scope of privacy in India.

Privacy India was set up in collaboration with the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore and Society in Action Group, Gurgaon, under the auspices of an international organization 'Privacy International'. Privacy International is a non-profit group that provides assistance to civil society groups, governments, international and regional bodies, the media and the public in a number of countries. For more info, visit its website.

Agenda
10:00-10:15 Welcome & Introduction to Privacy India: Elonnai Hickok (Policy Advocate, Privacy India)
10:30-11:30 Panel I: Privacy and Transparency
Moderator: Sunil Abraham (Executive Director, Centre for Internet & Society)
Panelists: Prashant Bhushan (Senior Advocate, New Delhi), Simon Davies (Director General, Privacy International, UK), Ponnurangam K (Assistant Prof, IIIT New Delhi), Chitra Ahanthem (Journalist, Imphal), Aruna Roy (Social & Political Activist), Deepak Maheshwari (Director Corporate Affairs, Microsoft)
11:30-12:30 Panel II: Privacy and E-Governance Initiatives
Moderator: Sudhir Krishnaswamy (Professor, Azim Premji University)
Panelists: Anant Maringanti (Independent Social Researcher), Usha Ramanathan (Advocate&Social Activist), Ram Sewak Sharma (Director General, UIDAI), Gus Hosein (Executive Director, Privacy International, UK), R K Singh (Union Home Secretary, New Delhi)*, Apar Gupta (Advocate, Supreme Court of India)
13:30-14:30 Panel III: Privacy and National Security
Moderator: Justice A P Shah (Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court)
Panelists: Menaka Guruswamy (Advocate, Supreme Court, New Delhi), Amol Sharma (Journalist, Wall Street Journal), Saikat Datta (Journalist, DNA), Eric King (Human Rights and Technology Advisor, Privacy International, UK), Prasanth Sugathan (Legal Counsel, Software Freedom Law Center) and Oxblood Ruffin  (Cult of the Dead Cow Security and Publishing Collective)
14:30-15:30 Panel IV: Privacy and Banking
Moderator: Prashant Iyengar (Associate Professor, Jindal Law University)
Panelists: M R Umarji (Chief Legal Advisor, IBA), N A Vijayashankar (Cyber Law Expert), Sucheta Dalal (Managing Editor, MoneyLife Magazine), Malavika Jayaram (Advocate, Bangalore)
15:45-16:45 Panel V: Privacy and Health
Moderator: Ashok Row Kavi (Journalist & LGBT Activist)
Panelists: K K Abraham (President, Indian Network for People with HIV), Shri Sayan Chatterjee (Secretary, National Aids Control Organization)*, Dr V M Katoch (Secretary, Department of Health Research), Dr B S Bedi (Advisor, CDAC & Media Lab Asia)
16:45-17:00 The Way Forward: Elonnai Hickok (Policy Advocate, Privacy India)


This is a public meeting. For participation in the event, get in touch with Elonnai (elonnai@cis-india.org)

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Anup Kumar Das
Centre for Studies in Science Policy
School of Social Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi - 110067, India
Personal webpage: www.anupkumardas.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call for Proposals: 2011 Emerald/IAM Indian Management Research Fund Award

2011 Emerald/IAM Indian Management Research Fund Award

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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 2012.
Winners will be announced in April 2012.

Last year's winner

Last year Emerald was delighted to receive almost 60 research proposals of outstanding quality. The winning research proposal was "Development Of Rural Healthcare Provisions In India: From The Perspective Of Effectuation" by Niharika Garud, Indian Institute Of Management Bangalore, India

"Winning the Emerald/IAM research award is exciting and a significant achievement for my research in rural healthcare sector. I feel honored and privileged to receive this recognition by prestigious and esteemed scholars. By participating in the Emerald/IAM award process, I was able to evaluate my work critically, and by doing so, I was able to articulate my ideas and be more precise about my research objectives. Being found worthy of the award and being recognized for my work in itself is a great reward which motivates other institutions to acknowledge and support this research further. The award motivates me to put more effort and strive harder to understand and solve social issues. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Emerald and Indian Academy of Management for supporting academic research around the world."

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Emma Stevenson
External Relations Executive
Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Howard House
Wagon Lane
Bingley BD16 1WA
United Kingdom

Tel +44 (0) 1274 785198
E-mail estevenson@emeraldinsight.com
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/research/awards/indianmgmt.htm

Recent Research Papers of Sujit Bhattacharya & Jayanthi A.P. of CSSP

Investigating the role of policies, strategies, and governance in China's emergence as a global nanotech player
by Sujit Bhattacharya; M. Bhati; A. P. Kshitij
2011 Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy (September 2011), pg. 1-14

Abstract
China has challenged the dominance of advanced OECD countries in high technologies by emerging as a leading country in nanotechnology; projected as a key technology of the 21st century. Stakes are high as estimated market value and economic and social benefits are immense for countries that can attain competency in this technology. The study makes a broad assessment of nanotechnology performance of China; to reveal to what extent it is making an assertion in this technology. We then investigate macro and micro level policies and strategies in China's emergence as a key player in nanotechnology. China's emergence in nanotechnology is discussed in a broader context to distill how a country that is still at a low end of technology value chain with limited innovative ability has been able to create capacity and capability in a high technology area. This can be learning for countries in transition that face similar constraints in trying to become an `innovation oriented' society.
Full-text Link


Research and Innovation for Drug Development in Neglected Diseases: A Case Study of India
by Sujit Bhattacharya; Jayanthi A. Pushkaran
African Journal of Science Technology and Development, 2011, 3(3), p. 236-258.

Abstract
This study investigated the research and innovation in 'neglected diseases' in India and the various modalities being undertaken to develop 'novel' drugs for these diseases. In spite of increase in scientific research and patent filing, examination of Indian pharmaceutical firm's activities shows that only a few firms are involved in the domain of neglected disease. Government is trying to bridge the 'translational gap' by stimulating public-private research partnership; however, private firms primarily exhibit profit motive for coming into public partnership. This model, as the evidences show, is not suitable for drug development in neglected diseases. The study explores other models that can broadly be placed under open innovation and argues that they are more promising for drug development in neglected diseases. It calls for more attention to these approaches as they provide incentives for actors to participate and moves away from the 'market centric' focus on drug development by firms leading to research only for lifestyle diseases effecting the north.

For full-text papers please contact the authors.

CfPs: Asia Competitiveness Forum 2012; April 26-27; New Delhi

Asia Competitiveness Forum 2012
New Delhi, India
April 26-27, 2012

Theme: Competitiveness - Economic Development, Prosperity and Creating Shared Value

Capitalism is an idea that has stood the test of time, but along the way it has changed dramatically. It is an idea which has not changed continuously but in a series of discontinuous leaps. We are in the midst of one such discontinuous transition wherein the world economies are grappling with slow down and reconfiguration. The world economy would be driven by the growth of Asia.
The challenge for tomorrow would be to look at Economic Development that is just, humane and inclusive. The idea that would be driving the world tomorrow would be creating shared value.
This year's Asia Competitiveness Forum center's on three pillars of Competitiveness i.e. Economic Development, Prosperity and Shared Value Creation.

Why this Forum?

• Meeting place for Practitioners and Researchers working in the field of Competitiveness, Clusters and Economic Development
• An opportunity to enhance prosperity by initiating a dialogue on unique Business Models, Cluster Competitiveness and Shared Value Creation
• A place to discuss current thinking and future challenges in the field of Public Policy, Social Business, Clusters and Competitiveness

Theme Span

• The Forum will be designed as a combination of academic presentations and practical knowledge involving interactive sessions (workshops, open space sessions etc.). The broad areas for the Forum include Economic Development, Prosperity and Creating Shared Value.

Call for Papers and Presentations

• Business and Cluster practitioners around the world are invited to submit proposals for presentations on the central theme of the Forum. The Forum will include sessions where ideas and processes examining Clusters and Competitiveness are to be presented. You can contribute by presenting new ideas and practical solutions for your fellow practitioners managing change, transition and other challenges in developing Sustainable Competitiveness and Creating Shared Value.
• Format: The proposed presentations should consist of a cover page and an abstract.
• The cover page should contain: Title of the presentation- full name and title (Mr., Mrs., Dr., Professor etc.); name of the organization/company, country, job title, a brief CV of not more than 200 words, contact email address and telephone number
• The abstract should cover the core theme of the Forum and should be no longer than 1000 words. We specially encourage young practitioners to submit an abstract
• CV's and abstracts must be emailed to: submissions@competitiveness.in

Deadlines: 14 February 2012: Submission of abstracts; 28 February 2012: Notification for selected abstracts

About Organizer: TCI
TCI is the leading global network for practitioners, policy makers, researchers and business leaders working towards improving competitiveness in regions and clusters. TCI is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, with a global scope, open to members from all countries throughout the private, public and voluntary sector. The membership base currently consists of 3000 leading practitioners from 100 countries. By sharing knowledge and experience, TCI members gain access to leading insights and expertise and the most recent global developments about competitiveness and innovation.

Further Details

"Understanding Innovation: the Indian Context" a Bulletin; November 2011 issue

Understanding Innovation: the Indian Context

November 2011 issue

A Bulletin Initiated by

National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS), DST, India

National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), New Delhi, India

Download Full-text PDF

HBL Article "How Not to Discuss Water with China" by Rohan D'Souza, CSSP

How Not to Discuss Water with China
Rohan D'Souza
The Hindu Business Line, January 1, 2012
Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/article2766410.ece

China has never been daunted by big engineering. The Great Wall, the Grand Canal and recently the Three Gorges Dam all testify to an almost habitual pursuit of projects involving enormous scale.
Small wonder that many in India see it but inevitable that China will divert the Yarlung Tsang-po for its thirst-ridden cities in the north. An idea made even more spectacular, given that this siphoning will literally involve taking the waters in a hop-jump-skip equivalent over the head reaches of three other mighty rivers: the Salween, Mekong and the temperamental Yangtze.
And even when this unforgiving route is overcome, the non-evaporated flows of the Tsang-po will then still have to be pumped, dropped and shuffled across a whole set of connecting channels, tunnels and sprawling pipelines before finally gushing from turned taps in Beijing.
To many, understandably, this kind of engineering is between implausible and impossible.
But can one confidently conclude that a desperately thirsty China is beyond great, grand and gigantic imaginations about water?
Officially, the Chinese government intends to move 38-48 billion cubic meters of water annually from its southern rivers for populations in the north, through the unambiguously titled scheme, the South North Water Diversion Project (SNWD).
Should these ambitious water diversions, however, unequivocally hold for trans-boundary rivers as well?

HARNESSING BRAHMAPUTRA
One of China's southernmost rivers is the Yarlung Tsang-Po, which, after entering Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, opens up majestically within the Assam valley to become India's 'moving ocean', the masculine Brahmaputra. Later on, these flows briefly meander as the Jamuna in Bangladesh before entirely folding into the Padma River (Pôdda), near Goalundo Ghat.
But one river stringing three nations is inescapably a natural geo-political muddle. Anyone, for example, pinching flows can send political ripples and cross-border anxieties. Added to which, this complicated fluvial regime comprising innumerable tributaries, bifurcations and branches remains little understood as a hydraulic process.
As yet, the vast mosaic of ecological niches and fluvial habitats borne by the Yarlung-Brahmaputra-Jamuna (YBJ) system is yet to be credibly studied in terms of its environmental webs and linkages. Ironically enough, the absence of such knowledge on the river's flora, fauna and intricate ecological relationships has hardly humbled those shaping a vibrant discourse over water security for the region. If anything, ignorance seems bliss in this case, with the entire effort focused on ascertaining and intensely debating quantifiable flows.
Put differently, the YBJ has been conveniently denied recognition as a river regime bearing environmental qualities. Instead, it has become a river of volumes, compiled as numbers, as averages and as simple statistics.

ANOTHER TACK
And herein lies the Chinese water conundrum for Indian diplomacy and its non-traditional security strategists.
If negotiations are reduced to ascertaining who is entitled to how much of the volume, the game might, in fact, be lost in a single move.
Thus far, the Indian side seems to be fashioning a two-point emphasis: constructing a dialogue for 'sharing benefits' from probable hydro-electric projects on the Yarlung-Brahmaputra stretch and developing a mutually agreeable format for exchanging hydraulic data.
The strategy, however, rests too much on hope and expectations about reciprocal goodwill. Moreover, China's imperatives or ability to realise kilowatts and cusecs do not, in any sense, provide a compelling urgency for regional cooperation.
Flow data, similarly, even when transparent and accessible, can only be read against the grain of several other imponderables.
And most critically, can such water arrangements, even if concluded as a treaty, be contained as a specific deal between India and China? That is, can India's understandings with China be prevented from an interpretative spillover into existing water treaties, or significantly trouble other delicately poised discussions over trans-boundary rivers in the region? Secondly, India held the upper riparian position on previous major treaty negotiations: the Indus Water Treaty (1960) and the Ganges Water Treaty (1996).
Upper riparians possess an unstated advantage in the creation of hydraulic facts and can carry their topographical strength into concluding any arrangement.
Clearly, not so in the case of the Yarlung Tsang-po, and bargains with China over a likely water treaty will put Indian negotiators in a technical context that for the latter, at least, entirely lacks historical precedence.
Put differently, a new language game will need to be evolved by the Indian side which, above all else, provides a novel architecture for discussions that are based on an entirely different set of hydraulic concepts and categories.
Interestingly enough, cutting such a fresh path will be a lot easier than pursuing an intense, dogged and grinding exchange over contested river flow data. Since the 1990s, a dramatic scholarly turn has occurred in several social science disciplines with the theme of water as a central narrative. A range of publications in anthropology, sociology and history, have decisively altered our understandings on river management and hydraulic control.

BEYOND STATISTICS
A recent issue of the journal Nature (vol. 4, September 30, 2010), highlighted the urgency for an "integrative water approach".
In effect, hydraulic and riverine habitat diversity have to be sustained, if human consumption requirements were to be met in the long term.
It is imperative that Indian water negotiators harness this fresh research turn. Lazy argumentations that continue to evoke nineteenth century quantitative hydrology and twentieth century large-dam monumentalism are most likely to fail.
Indian negotiators can make a more meaningful case by discussing thick interconnections between hydraulic diversity on the one hand and livelihood complexity and intricate social dependencies on the other — rather than foregrounding statistical simplifications about river flows.

(The author is with the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University)

Fox International Fellowship for JNU Researchers

Fox International Fellowship The University has signed an MoU with the Yale Centre for International and Area Studies (Yale University), USA, to administer the programme of Yale University "Fox International Fellowship" in JNU.  As per the agreement, two Fox International fellows from Yale will spend a year at JNU and two fellows from JNU will spend a year at Yale and the students of JNU will be fully funded by Yale University. The Committee shall recommend of M.Phil/Ph.D students to be sent to Yale University in order to conduct research in any of the following fields: Economics, Finance, Political Science. International Relations, Law and Contemporary History.   Although the Committee shall decide regarding selection of students of the University for the year 2011-12, the Fox International Fellowship will be awarded by the Yale University for the year 2012-13.   The students eligible for the year 2011-12 will be only those who have joined M.Phil/Ph.D or Direct Ph.D programme in the Monsoon Semester of academic year 2010-11 or earlier. Hence, they should have completed 3 semesters of M.Phil/Ph.D programme but should not have completed more than 6 semesters of the said programme as on 1st January, 2012.  In the light of the above decision, kindly forward us the recommendations of eligible candidate(s) in the enclosed proforma at the earliest, not later than 13th January, 2012, so as to enable us to take further appropriate action in the matter.  Selection Criteria Fellowship Form Application form for Fox International Fellowship 2011-12

EPW Article "Decentralised Procurement and Universalised PDS" by Kaustav Banerjee, CSSP

"Decentralised Procurement and Universalised PDS"
by Kaustav Banerjee

Decentralisation of food procurement could facilitate universalisation of the public distribution system under the proposed National Food Security Act. Non-green revolution crops such as millets, coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, etc, should also be covered in the PDS.

Economic & Political Weekly, December 24, 2011 vol xlvi, no 52, pages 19-22.

Download Full-text PDF

IWMI-Tata Policy Research Program: Inviting young researchers to contribute field-based research papers, case studies

IWMI-Tata Policy Research Program: Water, Energy, Climate, Agriculture, Livelihoods, Environment

Inviting young researchers, development professionals, journalists to contribute previously unpublished field-based research papers, case studies for Annual Partners' Meet 2012

March 13-15, 2012

Session Theme & Theme Manager

1. Studies of innovative approaches in improving the working of public irrigation schemes in major, medium or minor sectors [Meghna Brahmchari, meghna.brahmachari@gmail.com]
2. Costs and benefits of piped distribution (authorized or unauthorized) of canal or tank water [Tushaar Shah, t.shah@cgiar.org]
3. Livelihood impacts of water infrastructure created/renovated under MGNREGA [Shilp Verma shilpv@gmail.com]
4. Impacts of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) [K. Palanisami k.palanisami@cgiar.org]
5. Issues in expanding groundwater irrigation in eastern India [Aditi Mukherji a.mukherji@cgiar.org]
6. Impact of farm power supply policies on agriculture and rural development [Aditi Mukherji a.mukherji@cgiar.org]
7. Water quality deterioration and its impact on public health [Sunderrajan K sunderrajan@gmail.com and R Indu rajnarayan.indu@gmail.com]
8. Performance of policies and programs for promoting micro-irrigation [K Palanisami k.palanisami@cgiar.org]
9. Gender and equity issues in irrigated agriculture [Seema Kulkarni seemakulkarni2@gmail.com]
10. Water harvesting and groundwater recharge in a basin/catchment context [Shilp Verma shilpv@gmail.com]

Researchers are invited to submit field-based research papers, case studies, thought pieces, review articles (not exceeding 4500 words) on any of the 9 themes by January 15, 2012. Submission of a paper is no guarantee of selection for presentation in the Meet. IWMI-Tata Program will provide travel support to the lead author of each selected submission to participate in the Meet at Anand, Gujarat and present her/his paper. In addition, an honorarium of Rs 25,000 will be provided for each selected entry.

Please mail your submission, mentioning the theme for which it is submitted to: itp.apm2012@gmail.com
IWMI-Tata Policy Research Program
C/O INREM Foundation
Smruti Park, Opp. Mangalpura
Anand 388001, Gujarat
+91-2692-263816/7 +91-9825931984

Growth Analysis report on Energy Research & Development in India

Growth Analysis report on Energy Research & Development in India

In 2005 Sweden and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Science & Technology for which the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, VINNOVA, was assigned the operational responsibility on the Swedish side. VINNOVA has asked the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten) to engage in supporting Swedish-Indian research collaboration under this agreement. At the same time, the Swedish Energy Agency is responsible for bilateral collaborations within the area of energy, including research collaborations, with India according to an MoU on Renewable Energy from 2010 that refers to the 2005 S&T MoU.

In order to prepare for this engagement the Swedish Energy Agency has commissioned the Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis (Growth Analysis) to map out areas where India has a strong position in energy research. The mapping should cover subject areas, geographical areas and universities/institutes as well as other relevant players. This report has been prepared and written by Rajeev Palakshappa under the auspices of Andreas Muranyi Scheutz who is head of Growth Analysis New Delhi office, and was published in September 2011.

Download the report (as a pdf-file)

CfPs: 8th International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics (WIS) & 13th COLLNET Meeting, 23-26 Oct 2012, Seoul, Korea

Eighth International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics (WIS) & Thirteenth COLLNET Meeting

23-26 October 2012, Seoul, Korea

Host : Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI)

Call for Papers
Scope: Quantitative aspects of science of science. Collaboration and communication in science and in technology. Science policy. Combination and integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Theoretical, methodological and applied aspects, for example:

• Emerging issues in Scientometrics / Informetrics /webometrics and history
• Science Policy and collaboration
• Collaboration Studies for Science & Society
• Collaboration, Knowledge Management & Industrial Partnership
• Collaborative Bridge between Academic Research and Industry
• Techniques for Collaboration Studies
• Visualization Techniques in Collaboration Studies
• Quantitative analysis of S&T innovations
• Informetrics laws and distributions, mathematical models of communication or collaboration
• Nature and growth of science and of collaboration in science and its relation with technological output
• Evaluation indicators
• Collaboration in science and in technology from both quantitative and qualitative points of view.

Please, note that these examples listed above give a broad outline of the scope of the workshop theme but do not limit it.
Please send your extended abstracts to: Hildrun Kretschmer at Kretschmer.h@onlinehome.de with a copy to Kyungran Noh at infor@kisti.re.kr .

COLLNET and ISSI
COLLNET is a global interdisciplinary research network of scholars who are concerned to study aspects of collaboration in science and in technology (see COLLNET web site at: http://www.collnet.de/). This network of interdisciplinary scholars was established in January 2000 in Berlin with Hildrun Kretschmer as coordinator. Since that time there have been twelve meetings: the first in Berlin, September 2000, the 2nd in New Delhi, February 2001 and the 3rd in Sydney (in association with the 8th ISSI Conference), July 2001. The former ISSI President Mari Davis has mentioned in the Newsletter, July 2003: Importantly, ISSI needs alliance with other groups, such as COLLNET, for broader reach among a range of interdisciplinary researchers and to encourage new thinking and perspectives on investigations in science and in technology. The 4th COLLNET Meeting took place on August 29th in 2003 in Beijing in conjunction with the 9th International ISSI Conference; the International Workshop on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics and 5th COLLNET Meeting in Roorkee, India, in March 2004. The 6th COLLNET Meeting took place in association with the 10th ISSI Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, in July 2005 and the International Workshop on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics and 7th COLLNET Meeting in Nancy, France, in May 2006. The Third International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics, Scientometrics and Science and Society & Eighth COLLNET Meeting took place in New Delhi, India, in March 2007 (http://www.collnet-delhi.de), the Fourth International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics & Ninth COLLNET Meeting in Berlin, Germany in July 2008 (http://www.collnet-berlin.de) and the Fifth International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics & Tenth COLLNET Meeting in Dalian, China, in September 2009 (http://www.wiselab.cn/collnet-dalian).The Sixth International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics & Eleventh COLLNET Meeting took place in Mysore, India, in October 2010 and the Seventh International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics & Twelfth COLLNET Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, in September 2011 (http://collnet.cs.bilgi.edu.tr/).

General Chair: Hildrun Kretschmer (Germany, China)
Local Chair : Honam Choi (South Korea)

Important Dates:
Extended Abstract (3 pages. Abstracts less than 2.5 pages are not accepted): April 15, 2012 (deadline)
Acceptance: May 15, 2012
Full Paper: July 30, 2012 (deadline)
(Camera-ready version, maximum 10 pages including tables, figures, references). The extended abstracts will be peer reviewed by the Programme Committee. The accepted full papers will be published in the proceedings.

Further Details: http://collnet2012.ndsl.kr