Research Blog | Centre for Studies in Science Policy
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Friday, April 10, 2026
New Article "Learning Through Doing and Tinkering: Exploring the Role of Atal Tinkering Labs in STEM Education in India" by M Govind
by M Govind - Connected Science Learning, 2026, DOI: 10.1080/24758779.2026.2624833.
Abstract: The importance of STEM education in promoting innovation has prompted many countries to adopt innovative policies and programs for strengthening STEM learning. In India, the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), based on the principles of the maker movement, are designed as informal workspaces where children engage with hands-on activities with tools and equipment. This study examines the perspectives of students and teachers on tinkering activities and investigates how tinkering facilitates the learning of STEM concepts and their application in developing solutions to local problems. The study is based on a questionnaire-based survey and interview of 510 respondents, including students (466) and 44 teachers from 26 schools located in the National Capital Region of Delhi, India. Our study showed that through tinkering and assembling prototype models, students were able to grasp STEM concepts more effectively and design innovative solutions. However, the study also found that while ATLs enrich learning through creativity and problem-solving, they risk diverting students’ attention from foundational knowledge and placing additional burdens on teachers if not aligned with the formal school curriculum. Our study contributes to the theoretical understanding of how informal learning contexts enhance students’ understanding of concepts and their real-world applications.
CfPs: International Conference on STS for Resilient Futures | 23–24 July, Bangkok, Thailand
- Resilience and Disaster Management
- AI and Digital Transformation
- Climate Sustainability
- Health and Well-Being
- Food Security and Biodiversity
- Energy and Green Transition
- Abstract Submission Deadline: May 15th, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: May 30th, 2026
- Full Paper Submission: July 15th, 2026
Registration Fees
- Early Bird (until May 31st): 3,000 Thai Baht / 100 USD
- Regular (from June 1st): 4,000 Thai Baht / 125 USD
Further information/ Call for Abstracts: https://www.cusri-sts2026.com/.
For any specific inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at cusriglobal[@]gmail.com.
Organizing Committee - STS for Resilient Futures 2026
Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI)
Email: cusriglobal[@]gmail.com
Bangkok, Thailand
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
CfPs: 17th Biennial Conference on Entrepreneurship | 24-26 February; Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Call for Papers
The conference provides a forum for researchers, educators, and practitioners to share their research findings and experiences in entrepreneurship development. Deliberations on contemporary issues of relevance and interest have opened up new avenues to advance entrepreneurship on a much broader scale. The conferences are organized under the aegis of the Centre for Research in Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CREED), setup by EDII. EDII has organized sixteen Biennial Conferences from 1994 to 2025. In line with the sixteen biennial conferences held over the past 32 years, the 17th Biennial Conference on Entrepreneurship continues to serve as an established forum for researchers, educators, and practitioners to share their ideas and research findings with other researchers, professionals and thinkers in the field. This conference provides an opportunity to exchange feedback and refine their research pursuits. Researchers are invited to contribute papers and reports that explore and expand upon the field of entrepreneurship theory and practice.
Important Dates
- Extended Abstract (≈ 2000 words): August 7, 2026
- Extended Abstract Acceptance: August 14, 2026
- Paper Development Workshop: August 28, 2026
- Full Paper Submission: November 13, 2026
- Acceptance Decision: November 27, 2026
- Registration: December 31, 2026
Conference Themes and Focus Areas
The 17th Biennial Conference on Entrepreneurship invites research contributions that advance theory and practice across diverse contexts. We welcome submissions on the following themes:
- Entrepreneurship Policy, Governance, and Ecosystems
- Entrepreneurship Policy and Governance
- Sectoral Ecosystems and Entrepreneurship: Agriculture, Holistic Health, Education, Green Economy, etc.
- Focus on MSMEs: Competitiveness, Growth, and Sustainability
- Public-Private Partnerships and Ecosystem Development
- Regional Innovation Systems and Cluster Dynamics
- Entrepreneurship Theory, Practice, and New Venture Development
- Innovation, Technology, and Digital Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Education and Capability Development
- Cognitive, Behavioral, and Psychological Aspects of Entrepreneurship
- Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
- Sustainability, ESG, and Responsible Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship, Society, and Cultural Context
- Family Business and Ventures
- Emerging Perspectives and Cross-Cutting Research
- Leadership, HR, and Work Behaviour in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Monday, April 6, 2026
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
SAARC Cultural Centre proposes the SAARC Research Grants 2026
CALL FOR PROPOSALS – SAARC RESEARCH GRANTS 2026
INTERPRETING SHARED HERITAGE: CROSS-CULTURAL NARRATIVES IN MUSEUMS IN THE SAARC REGION
1. Background
As approved by the Fifteenth Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre held in Colombo from 19-20 August 2025 and the Sixty-second Session of the Programming Committee Meeting held in Kathmandu from 11-12 February 2026, SAARC Cultural Centre proposes the SAARC Research Grants 2026.
SAARC Region is home to diverse cultures and vibrant artistic traditions that are reflected in languages, philosophies, performing arts, crafts, rituals, tremendous knowledge of the universe and nature, historical identities, and many others. Museums in the SAARC Countries are uniquely positioned to interpret and communicate these cross-cultural narratives, fostering mutual understanding, honour, and respect of self and others, and regional solidarity.
The history of museum-making shows that museums are not merely repositories for storing and exhibiting artifacts, but also active agents in the construction of cultural narratives, consequently shaping public understanding of history and culture. Museums in South Asia have vast collections of artifacts ranging from textiles, sculptures, manuscripts, to art pieces that transcend national borders yet often present fragmented narratives that overlook cross-cultural linkages.
Therefore, it is imperative to re-examine the traditional role of museums and to explore and examine how museums in the SAARC Region (re) interpret and present shared cultural heritage, and to analyse the role of cross-cultural narratives that reflect the complexities of cross-cultural interactions.
The SCC invites academics and researchers from Member States to submit detailed research project proposals. Each researcher will be granted US $ 3,000 (or an equivalent amount in the local currency) for carrying out the research. The Research Grant will be distributed in Two (2) installments, the First installment (US$1500) at the commencement of the project and the Final installment (US$1500) after the submission of the final Report.
The selection of research project proposals shall be carried out by a Team of Experts. The Research Grants will be subject to a Mid-term Review during which the Grantees shall submit a Progress Report and presentation to the Team of Experts via online/offline mode. Any suggestions/recommendations made by the Team of Experts during the Review must be incorporated duly into the final Report by the respective researchers. At the end of the Grant period the Grantees shall submit the final Report to the SCC.
2. Sub-Themes
- Museums-Colonial Legacies and Decolonization
- Re-examining Museum Practices and Processes of Collecting and Curating
- Museums as Repositories and Communicators of Culture and Knowledge
- Museums as Spaces shaping South Asia's Cross-Cultural Dialogues
3. Objectives
- To assess the role of museums in promoting regional solidarity through shared heritage interpretation
- To identify overlapping heritage elements across SAARC countries as represented in museum collections
- Analyse and re-examine the current museological practices and to evaluate the challenges in developing cross-cultural narratives
- Explore ways to include marginalized voices in heritage narratives
- Develop inclusive methodologies and foster an understanding of interconnected histories in a region characterized by diversity.
4. Participation and Nominations Process
- Applicants from the SAARC Member Countries are requested to submit a detailed research proposal, along with a detailed budget breakdown (as per the enclosed format), on any of the themes given above.
- Each Member State can forward any number of research proposals for Research proposals should be innovative and original research.
- All applicants must submit the Registration form and Format for the Submission of Research Proposals through the SAARC Division of the respective Foreign Ministries/External Affairs of the Member States for onward transmission to the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu.
- An advance copy of the above documents can be emailed to sccpublications@gmail.com
- Format for the application can be downloaded from the SCC (www.saarcculture.org)
- Only those research proposals as received through official channel will be accepted by the SAARC Cultural Centre and placed before the Research Grants Committee (RGC) of the SAARC Cultural Centre. The RGC will review the research proposals and select up to Eight proposals for the purpose of research grant.
- All the research grants will be subject to a mid-term review and the continuation of the project will be subject to the approval of the Progress Report by the Research Review Committee (RRC) of the SAARC Cultural Centre. For this purpose the SAARC Cultural Centre would hold a Review Meeting of the project in which all the researchers would be required to present their progress of the research. Any suggestions/ recommendations made by the SAARC Cultural Centre at this stage may be included in the research process by the respective researchers.
- At the end of the research project each researcher will be required to submit a publishable draft of the Research report (c. 20,000 to 30,000 words).
- All Research reports will be reviewed, edited (if so required) and, subject to the recommendation of the reviewer, published by the SAARC Cultural Centre under its publications programme.
NB: Academics, scholars, and researchers of the SAARC Member States who have previously received the SAARC research grants, within the last 5 years, are not eligible to apply.
5. Tentative Time Schedule
10 months (Starting from May 2026-March 2027)
Last Date for submitting research proposals – 10 May 2026
Approval of the research project – 30 May 2026
Progress Report – October 2026
Final Report – March 2027
6. Additional Information
Focal person at SCC:
Deputy Director (Research)
Email: sccpublications@gmail.com
Download Here:
PDF: Details, Application Form
WORD: Application Form
Science Diplomacy Latest issue (Vol. 9(3), Jan-Mar 2026)
Greetings from CSIR-NIScPR, India!
We are pleased to share the latest issue of Science Diplomacy (Vol. 9(3), Jan-Mar 2026), which brings together diverse global perspectives on the evolving role of science diplomacy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. This issue is anchored in recent global developments, including the Raisina Dialogue 2026, where the Science & Diplomacy Initiative was introduced, reflecting the growing integration of science within strategic and foreign policy frameworks. The issue features the following contributions:
- [From Reaction to Anticipation: Science Diplomacy in a New World Order] — Marga Gual Soler, Joanna Wisniewska, Shabon Jones, Marilyne Andersen
- [Bridging STI Policy and Foreign Policy: Advancing Action-Oriented Science Diplomacy] — Tateo Arimoto
- [European Science Diplomacy at a Moment of Strategic Reckoning] — Clara Solé
- [Quantum Diplomacy, Data Security, and India's Digital Future] — Nitin Bayal
- [Tech Diplomacy in An Era of Technology] — Sanjay Bhattacharyya
- [Why Science Diplomacy is Particularly Important for Biotechnology] — Shambhavi Naik
- [From Global South Voice to Climate Leader: India's Diplomatic Push] — Anamika Gulati
- [Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership: Shaping the Future of Technology, Sustainability and Supply-Chain Resilience] — Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Sneha Sinha
Warm RegardsMonika
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
CIRC e-course on AI & Competition: Regulatory and Enforcement Perspectives | April–May 2026
The CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) is pleased to invite students, faculty members, and professionals to enroll in "AI & Competition: Regulatory and Enforcement Perspectives," a 6-week online certification course designed to explore how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping markets, competition law, and regulatory enforcement in the digital economy. The course provides practical insights into emerging issues such as algorithmic pricing, data-driven market power, and automated decision-making, while examining regulatory responses and competition policy developments in India and across global jurisdictions.
Course Details
Duration: 03 April – 09 May 2026
Format: Online (Fridays & Saturdays)
Learning Mode: 20+ hours of interactive sessions with access to recorded lectures, curated readings, and case studies via CIRC's e-learning portal
Course Fees
| Category | Students | Working Professionals |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Participants | ₹6,000 (₹5,085 + ₹915 GST) | ₹18,000 (₹15,255 + ₹2,745 GST) |
| International Participants | USD 150 | USD 390 |
| Least Developed Countries (LDCs)* | USD 100 | USD 220 |
*Fees include all academic support and course materials.
Register: Registration link for the course
Course Details: visit the course website.
For any queries or group registrations, please contact us at courses[@]circ.in.
We look forward to your participation.
Thanks & Regards,
Team CIRC CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) Flat #5, House No. 658, Lane No. 4, Westend Marg, Saidulajab, New Delhi-110030 Tel: +91 11 46170236 Email: courses[@]circ.in Web: www.circ.in | ||||
Re: [CSSP-Forum] Dr. Papia Sengupta, SSS-JNU, Elected as Fellow at the Royal Historical Society since February 2026
--Dear Dr. Sengupta,Congratulations on your election as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. This accomplishment is a significant recognition of your contributions.Best regards,BlesilBlesil T K
PhD Candidate & Sponsored Scholar (2026-2029), History of Science Society (HSS), USA
Department of Studies in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
School of Social Sciences
Central University of Gujarat
Kundhela, Taluka Dabhoi
Vadodara-391107
Gujarat, India
From: cssp-forum@googlegroups.com <cssp-forum@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Prabir G. Dastidar Ph.D <prabirgd11@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 9:31 PM
To: anupdas2072@gmail.com <anupdas2072@gmail.com>
Cc: cssp-forum <cssp-forum@googlegroups.com>; indialics-friends@googlegroups.com <indialics-friends@googlegroups.com>; sts-india-network@googlegroups.com <sts-india-network@googlegroups.com>; anupdas2072.puna@blogger.com <anupdas2072.puna@blogger.com>; anupdas2072.media@blogger.com <anupdas2072.media@blogger.com>; gurgaon-water-forum@googlegroups.com <gurgaon-water-forum@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [CSSP-Forum] Dr. Papia Sengupta, SSS-JNU, Elected as Fellow at the Royal Historical Society since February 2026Congratulations, Dr Papia. Good news. Please keep it up.Prabir G Dastidar
On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:02 PM anup kumar das <anupdas2072@gmail.com> wrote:
--Very glad to inform you that Dr. Papia Sengupta has been elected as Fellow at the Royal Historical Society since February 2026.
- Also sharing here her latest publication:
- Migrant Workers and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Delhi, by Papia Sengupta, pp. 159–186, DOI: 10.33134/HUP-36-7. In: Protecting Workers? Crisis, COVID-19, and South Asia, edited by Kanchana N. Ruwanpura and Wilfried Swenden, Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, 2026. Abstract: The chapter critically analyses the pandemic measures adopted towards migrant workers in Delhi to investigate their consequences. This is important given the high density of migrant workers from neighbouring states. Utilising oral testimonies of workers and document analysis of the Delhi government's special programmes, the chapter analyses the case of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi through three lenses: state support, pandemic inequities, and vulnerability. This is undertaken by using narratives of migrant workers in Delhi and their experiences of the pandemic and how it affected them. I used qualitative methods based on long oral testimonies of 25 migrant workers in the two industrial sites of Wazirpur and Kapashera. These accounts were collected between December 2021 and June 2022, which coincided with the lowering of the first wave in 2021 and just in the aftermath of the devastating second wave in 2022. This was a period of pain, loss, and suffering for the poor and marginalised. This chapter gives a nuanced perspective from below, that is, how the workers experienced policies on the ground: the hardships of the pandemic was felt by everyone but many of these workers lost jobs and family members to the virus. Others, who were fortunate not to lose a family member, lost out on the possibility of vertical mobility.
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--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Prabir G. Dastidar(He/Him/His)
Scientist G/Adviser (Retd)
C/O Ministry of Earth sciences (MoES)
Prithvi Bhavan (Opposite to India Habitat Centre)
Lodi Road
New Delhi- 110003. INDIA.
** Professor of Practice, Techno India University, West Bengal** Ex-Visiting Professor at the SGT UNIVERSITY, Gurugram, Delhi NCR
Residence: NOIDA Sector 150, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Delhi NCRUttar Pradesh, Pin 201310
ORCID id:Orcid.org/0000-0001-5871-6261
Telephone: +91-0120-6053740(R)Mobile. : +91-9868543999.
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UNESCO PRESS - Agenda : UNESCO highlights from April to June 2026
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UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, PARIS, NA FRANCE France

