Policy Dialogue - Benchmarking Rural Innovation Capacities in South Asia

Policy Dialogue - Benchmarking Rural Innovation Capacities in South Asia

19-20 August 2009

Venue: India International Centre, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi

Organized by:

Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi

Centre for Research on Innovation and Science Policy, Hyderabad

Sponsored by IDRC, Canada (IPS Programme)

This workshop is designed as a policy dialogue on implications for capacity benchmarking, if South Asian countries are to move from science and technology policy to innovation policy with the specific goals of rural development.

Objectives:

1. To provide opportunities for dialogue and learning for planners and policy makers in developing countries in South Asia on how to strengthen innovation capacity in ways that address social, economic and sustainability agendas.

2. Benchmark national capacity to innovate so as to provide points of reference to help planners make judgements about progress in improving national and sectoral performance and help guide and monitor the impact of policy and institutional changes.

Targeted Participants:

Senior officials within S&T organizations engaged in science, technology and innovation planning, and academics/ researchers/ practitioners involved in rural innovation in South Asian countries.

For participation please contact:

• Dr. Rajeswari S. Raina, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi [email: rajeswari_raina[at]yahoo.com]; or
• Dr. Rasheed Sulaiman V, Director, Centre for Research on Innovation and Science Policy, Hyderabad [email: crispindia[at]gmail.com]

More Details

Third IDSA Annual Conference on South Asia

Third IDSA Annual Conference on South Asia

Theme: South Asia 2020: Towards Cooperation or Conflict?

Proposed dates: November 4-6, 2009

Organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi

This international seminar aims to bring together scholars of the region to explore some of these ideas and initiate a debate on how we look at our respective countries and the region from the prism of conflict or cooperation in 2020. The goal is to exchange ideas and reflect on a collective future in which regional cooperation can resolve common problems and achieve common goals. The objective of the seminar is to chart out a path for mutual cooperation and let differences not hinder cooperation. The conference will reflect on some of these questions:

• Can the countries of the region look forward to better political relations in 2020?
• How will democratization impact civil society movements and enable greater people to people contact?
• What will be the framework of cooperation to deal with non-state actors?
• Will there be greater trade and investment from within the region?
• What will be the role of external powers in the region?
• How do countries of South Asia look at the future given the development in communication network, transnational security threats, environment challenges and problems of development in 2020?
• Will the region be able to cope with issues food, water and energy security?
• Will the countries and the region be able to deal with climate change?

Call for Papers

The Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi, invites papers from scholars, academics, analysts and security experts on "South Asia 2020: Towards Cooperation or Conflict?". Scholars invited will be paid return economy class air fare from the country of their residence to New Delhi to participate in the conference. The organizers will take care of boarding, lodging and local hospitality during the period of this conference. Kindly send 500 words abstract on any issue delineated in the concept note. The deadline for submission of the abstract is July 31, 2009. For further information or clarification on this conference please contact the Conference Coordinator Dr Smruti S Pattanaik in her email address: smrutipattanaik[at]rediffmail.com

Concept Note

Science and Heritage Postdoctoral Fellowships

Science and Heritage Postdoctoral Fellowships

Offered by

Science and Heritage Programme,

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UK

Summary
The Science and Heritage Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to support outstanding early career researchers to carry out research and so establish an independent research career in heritage science.They duration of the Fellowship is equivalent to 3 years full-time and they are open to researchers with no more than 5 years post-doctoral or equivalent experience.The funding will cover Fellow’s salary and a small amount of travel and subsistence, equipment and consumables.

Closing Date:
10/09/2009 [4pm Thursday 10th September 2009]

How to make an application
In order to apply to the Science and Heritage Post-doctoral Fellowships competition, you should complete a proposal and submit this electronically through the Je-S system, along with a Case for Support and relevant appendices.

Further Information
AHRC is administering this call on behalf of AHRC and EPSRC. Please ensure that you have read the Details of the Call and the Specification document carefully before making your application.

Download

• Details of the Call
• Specification Document
• Science and Heritage Programme

National Convention on Making Growth Inclusive: Opportunities, Scope and Challenges at the State Level

National Convention on Making Growth Inclusive: Opportunities, Scope and Challenges at the State Level

Dates: 26-28 October 2009

Organized by: Gujarat Institute of Development Research (GIDR), Gandhinagar Sarkhej Highway, Gata, Ahmedabad - 380 060, Gujarat

Call for Papers

The main focus of the 3-day National Convention is to discuss strategies and pathways for moving towards inclusive growth during the XI Plan at state as well as sectoral levels. The macro level strategy, as envisaged in the XI Plan, consists of centrality of agriculture growth, environmental sustainability and increased thrust on workforce diversification. This calls for: (a) realigning the sectoral priorities in favour of agriculture and labour intensive industries; and (b) allocation of funds by the centre and the states and effective management of programmes and schemes through improved governance at various levels. All these, essentially, would hinge on willingness as well as preparedness on part of the state Governments to work out actionable plans that may feed into a larger and cohesive scenario of inclusive growth. This is complex as the state level strategies are poised for dual roles of addressing not only state specific issues and goals, but also that of contributing towards sustaining the momentum of overall growth at the macro level. How far the state Governments, operating under a fairly diverse socio-economic and political milieu share the larger goal at the national level, how consistent are the policy initiatives of states, and what kind of specific constraints are being faced by them under the present system of federal finance? These are some of the larger issues that need careful attention for creating appropriate environment and a larger picture of inclusive growth envisaged in the XI Plan. While there is a fair amount of consensus on the fact that economic growth has failed to be (sufficiently) inclusive, particularly in post-liberalisation phase, what is however, less clear is the operational definition of inclusive growth; the measures thereof; the diagnosis and the solutions or new pathways for achieving such growth.

Given this backdrop, the National Convention will deliberate on the state as well as sector specific issues. The Convention will consist of state specific panels to discuss strategies of states for achieving inclusive growth and thematic sessions. The themes will include the following: i) Sustainable Growth in Agriculture: Challenges and Alternative Perspectives; ii) Employment Scenario and Right to Work and iii) Effective Governance. The thematic sessions will consist of about 8-10 papers in each of the three themes. Papers are invited for the thematic sessions and state level analysis will be given the preference. Those who wish to contribute papers for the Convention should submit an abstract by June 30, 2009. The abstract should not be more than 300 words and should include title of the paper, name/s, email address, and institutional affiliation/s of the authors. Authors of the selected abstracts will be informed by July 15, for submission of the full papers (up to 12000 words). Full papers should be sent before September 15th. These papers will be reviewed and decision about acceptance of papers for presentation in the National Convention will be communicated to authors by September 30, 2009. Authors of the selected papers will be provided with travel support (II AC Sleeper) and also local hospitality during the Convention.

For further details and information about the structure and themes of the Convention please visit the institute's website www.gidr.ac.in or write to the Conveners: Dr. Jharna Pathak jharna[at]gidr.ac.in; Professor. Amita Shah amitagidr[at]gmail.com Telephone Nos.: 02717-242366/7, Fax: 02717242365.

Download Concept Note

Call for Research Pre-Proposals -Economics of Climate Change

Call for Research Pre-Proposals -Economics of Climate Change

Deadline June 30th 2009

The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is a regional network that brings together and strengthens South Asian researchers and institutions interested in the inter-connections between development and the environment. SANDEE is currently inviting research pre-proposals on the Economics of Climate Change. Pre-proposals, if accepted, will lead to an invitation to submit a full research proposal.

Human activity is altering the earth's climate with serious implications for food security, health, biodiversity and natural disasters. South Asian countries will need to respond with strategies to both mitigate green house gases and adapt to climate change. SANDEE would like to increase its support for research on the economics of climate change.

We are soliciting concept notes on the following topics: a) The benefits, costs and distributional impacts of specific adaptation or mitigation strategies. b) Economy wide impacts of climate change policies through the use of macro-economic models. c) Incentives related to international climate mitigation/adaptation instruments and climate negotiations.d) Economic analyses of local and regional climate problems such as haze and black carbon and strategies to mitigate these. e) Extreme events and the economic viability of 'adaptation instruments' such as insurance, improved natural barriers or institutional responses.

SANDEE supports economics research related to environmental problems. Pre-proposals that do not have a strong economics component will not be considered. However, multi-disciplinary projects are encouraged. Institutional affiliation is required for receiving support. Pre-proposals will be evaluated on their academic merit and policy significance.

SANDEE will collect proposals throughout the next 12 months. However, in order to be considered for our next research competition, please send concept notes by June 30th 2009. Grant requests can range from 15 to 30,000 USD for one to two year grants, but larger proposals need to include teams of natural and social scientists. Concept notes can be uploaded on the SANDEE website at www.sandeeonline.com. Please contact at application[at]sandeeonline.com if you have additional queries.

Optimum Utilization of Renewable Energy for Electrification of Small Island in Developing Countries

Mitra, Indradip. Optimum Utilization of Renewable Energy for Electrification of Small Island in Developing Countries. Verlag: Kassel University Press, 2008. ISBN : 978-3-89958-694-7. Price: 28.00 Euro.

Abstract

This Doctoral research investigated selected themes from the general research question “What are the impacts of past experiences and present developments on power supply systems on small islands in developing countries utilizing renewable energy and how to improve the situation?” It focussed particularly on techno-economic aspects and attempted to investigate the state-of-the-art in several aspects of technology, tools and practices for island electrification. It also documented good practice cases concerning technology as well as sustainability. The research developed a generic type methodology for small island electrification with renewable energy and validated it in a real small island in India. It also investigated the impacts of existing island electrification projects on the local society.

The research had a combination of detailed literature review, survey, analysis of real power plant performance, extensive field works in islands, interviews with several authorities, experts, consumers and stakeholders and rigorous computer based energy modelling and simulation exercises. The theoretical, analytical and practical works were documented in six chapters of the thesis to give shape a compendium of discussions on interdisciplinary themes related to island electrification with renewable energy.

The study showed that with appropriate renewable energy technology, organisation and tariff structure the existing projects in the island clusters of Sundarbans in India are creating positive impacts on the islands’ society.

The detailed case study was performed for two villages, with a total load of about 98 kW peak and 670 kWh per day, in Bali Island in Sundarbans region in India. In this task, the time series modelling was conducted for power generation via Solar Photovoltaic and Biomass energy technologies. Two optimisation tools, HOMER for power generation and ViPOR for distribution layout, were used in this work and special biomass gasification modules had been developed in HOMER environment. Simulation, optimization and sensitivity analyses had been performed for designing rudimentary power systems. Time and cost saving approach was developed by integrating HOMER-ViPOR combination with remote sensing and Geographical Information System techniques. Easily available high resolution satellite data were used for preparing suitable inputs accounting for the effect of the spatial features in the distribution layout optimisation tasks.

The research was concluded with optimistic note that many small islands in developing countries through out the world are holding opportunities for greater deployment of renewable energy based electrification in the near future.

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Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program

2010-2011

International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy, USA

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program
Named in honor of NED’s principal founders, former president Ronald Reagan and the late congressman Dante Fascell, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program was established in 2001 with funding from the U.S. Congress to enable democratic activists, practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understand­ing of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change. Fellows are in residence at the Forum and participate in the collegial life of the Endowment and in the many opportunities for professional exchange in Washington, D.C.
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is intended primarily for practitioners and scholars from emerging and aspiring democracies. Distinguished scholars from the United States and other established democracies are also eligible to apply. The program offers five-month fellowships for practitioners to improve strategies and techniques for building democ­racy abroad and five- to ten-month fellowships for scholars to conduct original re­search for publica­tion. While the two tracks share many common elements, they have different eligibility requirements and distinct goals, activities, and products associated with them.

The Practitioner Track
The Reagan-Fascell program was established with the primary purpose of supporting democracy activists, human rights advocates, journalists, and others who work on the frontlines of building democracy in emerging and aspiring democracies. The program provides practitioners with a needed break from their daily routine so that they may reflect on their work, learn from counterparts in the United States, and reevaluate techniques for building democracy in their country of origin.
Eligibility: Applicants interested in the practitioner track are expected to have substantial practical experience working to promote democracy or human rights in their country of origin or interest. There are no specific degree requirements for the practitioner track. A Ph.D., for instance, is not required of practitioner applicants. While there are also no age limits, applicants on the practitioner track are typically mid-career professionals with several years of professional experience in the field of democracy and human rights. Examples of eligible candidates for the practitioner track include human rights advocates, political party activists, professional staff of civic or humanitarian organizations, international lawyers, journalists, labor leaders, politicians, and diplomats.
Practitioner fellowships are typically five months in duration and culminate in a strategic policy memorandum, short article or op-ed, as well as a formal presentation of the fellow’s analysis and ideas.

The Scholarly Track
In recognition of the importance of intellectual contributions to the theory and practice of democracy, the Reagan-Fascell program offers a scholarly track for scholars, professors, and established writers. Applicants for this track may be scholars from emerging and aspiring democracies or accomplished scholars from the United States and other established democracies.
Eligibility: Applicants interested in the scholarly track are expected to possess a doctorate (a Ph.D., or academic equivalent) at the time of application, to have published in their field of expertise, and to have developed a detailed research outline for their fellowship project. Examples of eligible candidates for the scholarly track include college and university professors, analysts at research centers and “think tanks,” and independent writers. Occasionally, a professional who is planning to write a book or other scholarly publication may qualify to apply on the scholarly track.
Scholarly track fellowships are typically five months in duration (when appropriate, a small number of scholarly fellowships may be granted for ten-month periods). Fellows on this track make at least one public presentation of their work and complete a substantial piece of writing (typically an article or book) for publication.

Download Information Booklet and Application Guidelines

Application Deadline: November 9, 2009

EvalueServe Study on R&D Ecosystem in India

EvalueServe Study on R&D Ecosystem in India: A Report commissioned by the British High Commission and the Canadian High Commission, New Delhi. October 2008.

The S&T/Trade Divisions of the Canadian and UK High Commissions contracted Evalueserve last Spring to produce such a study with a view to providing a snapshot of the Indian R&D ecosystem to the many stakeholders that are interested in pursuing collaboration with India. The result was a 145-page document entitled "Study on R&D Ecosystem in India."

Following is an excerpt from the Executive Summary:

• Driven by rural outputs and low-income, India is the fourth largest economy in the world. The Formal sectors employ 11 percent of the total workforce, with the rest being occupied in the informal sector, and the bulk of self-employment existing in low-productivity subsistence agriculture and services sectors. Since average enterprise productivity in formal sectors is 23 times higher than in agriculture, India can leverage the potential in more productive industry segments by strengthening and expanding the support system for technology at the cluster level.
• India’s strength lies in its dynamic population, more than half of which is under 25 years of age. Although only 17 percent of people in their mid-20s and older have a secondary education, more aggressive education campaigns can help solve this problem.
• The growth in R&D, in India, has been led by the increasing demand for low-cost products supported by rising income levels. This has been limited to a small segment of the economy, though there have been innovations in both the formal and informal sectors. In the 11th Five Year Plan, the government of India has envisaged to increase the country’s R&D spends from less than 1 percent to 2 percent by 2012. This move will put India in league with the developed countries that spend 2.5 percent of their GDP on R&D on an average.

Download Full-text PDF or Word DOC

Newton International Fellowship scheme

Are you at the beginning of your research career - with the potential to be world-class? Is your research in the natural or social sciences, engineering or humanities? Do you want to build and maintain links with leading researchers in the UK? Then apply now for a Newton International Fellowship.

The Newton International Fellowship scheme will select the very best early stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world, and offer support for two years at UK research institutions.The long-term aim of the scheme is to build a global pool of research leaders and encourage long-term international collaboration with the UK.

The Newton International Fellowships scheme is run by The British Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.
The Fellowships cover the broad range of natural and social sciences, engineering and the humanities.

They provide grants of £24,000 per annum to cover subsistence and £8,000 to cover research expenses, plus a one-off relocation allowance of £2,000. As part of the scheme, all Newton Fellows who remain in research will be granted a 10 year follow-up funding package worth £6,000 per annum.

For more detailed information on the Newton International Fellowships please download the Scheme Notes.

The next round of applications will open in December 2009.

UNDP APRI Fellowships 2009

The Asia-Pacific Regional Human Development Initiative (APRI) Fellowships
The UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Human Development Initiative (APRI) announces the opening of two types of Human Development fellowships for citizens of the Asia-Pacific countries.

Theme: Climate Change and Human Development

Human Development Academic Fellowships
The aim of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Academic Fellowships for Asia and Pacific is to analyse issues from the human development perspective, with a focus on fostering creative thinking and innovative research on the subject among young people. The research must focus on a well-defined aspect of human development, could be theoretical, applied, policy-oriented or a combination and must amount to a substantive contribution to human development thinking relevant for the region.The Fellowship is intended for young Ph.D. students who are at an advanced dissertation stage working on a topic related to human development – theoretical, applied or policy oriented.
Download Brochure of Academic Fellowship 2009

Human Development Media Fellowships
The aim of the UNDP Human Development Fellowships for Asia Pacific (Media) is to encourage dissemination and advocacy on issues of concern to countries of the Asia Pacific region from a human development perspective. The fellowship was developed based on the premise that stronger media coverage of human development could promote focus on critical development concerns. The fellowship is intended to support mid-career media professionals to communicate human development themes in mainstream media.
Download Brochure of Media Fellowship 2009

Dr. Radhakrishnan Chair and two Rajya Sabha Fellowships on Parliamentary Studies

Applications are invited for the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Chair and two Rajya Sabha Fellowships on Parliamentary Studies instituted by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for promoting an indepth inquiry and research on different aspects of Parliamentary democracy in general and Indian Parliament and Rajya Sabha in particular.

The Chair and the Fellowships are open to academics/experts of proven scholarship in these areas with suitable qualifications.

The details of the Scheme and the Application Forms can be downloaded from here.

Application Form, duly filled in, may be sent to
Shri S.D. Nautiyal
Director
Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Room No. 147, Parliament House Annexe
New Delhi – 110001

Last Date: 15 June 2009

International Conference on Research Policy for Sustainable Energy

International Conference on Research Policy for Sustainable Energy

October 12-13, 2009

Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Organized by: Indian National Academy of Engineering, New Delhi

Climate Change and Global warming caused by excessive Greenhouse gases (GHG) are considered the biggest threat to our planet. Kyoto Protocol is a mandate for countries to reduce GHG emission globally although few are subscribing to it aggressively. Electricity generation resulting from burning of fossil fuels is considered one of the prime sources of GHG emission. Therefore alternate energy systems to reduce burning of fossil fuels have come to centre stage of development globally. Wind, Small Hydro, Solar and Bio Energy are considered as viable sources for power generation so as to reduce the need for additional coal and oil based plants. In addition, Ocean / Tidal, geothermal and Hydrogen Energy are also in development stage. About 20% generation from such renewables is anticipated in the next decade. Recent EU summit has proposed an attractive “20-20-20” plan implying 20% reduction in GHG by 2020 with 20% electricity generation from Renewable Energy.
Energy Conservation and Efficiency are the new Mantra in this endeavor wherein saving energy is assuming prime importance in all sectors. Converting Urban and Rural waste to energy called “Waste to Watts” is another promising area. Both Micro and Macro level solutions should be attempted. Unlike centralized power generation of yore, emphasis will be on distributed and decentralized generation (DDG) using locally available resources. ‘Roof top’, ‘back yard’ or ‘basement’ power plants may become the order of the day both to feed local loads and to the grid. Many technological, economic and social challenges lie ahead as ‘out of box’ solutions are attempted.
The Kyoto protocol thrust may indeed become the vehicle for industrialized countries to not only reduce their emissions but help developing countries to effect the same through development of appropriate technologies. An appropriate “Carbon Credit” scheme could also support developing countries to reduce emissions through technology intervention and implementation in the latter. Thus “global synergy” will become a requirement and global R&D a necessity in tackling this energy crisis and climate change. We need to identify suitable R&D projects to be undertaken by Industry, Universities, Utilities, Energy Agencies and Research organizations to augment the above efforts leading to viable “green technologies” centered on “ Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems”. Conventional Energy can not be wished away as it continues to be the mainstay for development for decades to come. The challenge is to make conventional energy sustainable. Clean coal technologies, emission reduction, improved efficiency, reduction of losses are some of the aspects.
The sequence of steps for any Technology to see the light of the day is: a) Scientific inventions, b) Engineering & Technology, c) Lab. Models & conceptualization, d) Field Models, e) Field Demonstration, f) Replication and scalability of Field models for mass applications, g) Commercial Model h) Business model. Unless the R&D concept ultimately results in a Business Model acceptable to Society the effort is considered incomplete.
Identification of R&D Projects will remain a wish list unless a suitable mechanism is worked out to implement the same. Therefore a Two day conference is being organized on “Research Policy for Sustainable Energy” to deliberate on all relevant issues to make “ Sustainable Energy” (SE) realizable. The prime objectives of such a policy should be to spur technology development and help its adaptation for societal applications.
There are many international agencies supporting R&D in Sustainable Energy such as USAID, UN, GEF, UNDP, World Bank, EU, Asia Pacific consortium (AP6) etc. India has entered into S&T collaboration agreements with several countries with emphasis on SE, such as Canada, Australia, Israel etc. Ministries of Govt. of India dealing with Energy such as Coal, NRE, Power, S&T, Petroleum etc, are mandated to support developments in SE. Academic and Research Institutions established by Govt. and non- Govt agencies are prime actors in R&D. Similarly Industry, Energy Agencies, utilities are active stake holders. The conference will have presentations from above organizations on their role to support research for SE so as to brainstorm on networking them for expected outcome. A conducive research policy to achieve desired results is being aimed at.

Conference Objectives

• Brainstorm on viable / implementable technologies for local/global applications through Research Development & Deployment (RD&D) efforts on “Sustainable Energy”.
• Understanding of past energy policy/initiative and their effectiveness.• Identify the role of stake holders- Universities, Industry, Govt./Funding Agencies (National and international) and Utilities/ User Agencies in this effort.
• Discuss workable institutional mechanism to carry out RD&D in a consortium mode to achieve the desired goals.
• Discuss mechanism of international cooperation in these efforts to effect ‘Global Synergy’

Registration
Participants/delegates are requested to register in advance. The Registration Form may be filled and mailed alongwith following registration fee, so as to reach the Chairman, Organizing Committee before July 15, 2009.

• Students Rs.500
• Participants from Academia/R&D/Govt Organisations Rs.1500
• Industrial/Corporate Sector Rs.5000

All remittances should be made by a demand draft drawn in favour of “Indian National Academy of Engineering, New Delhi”.

Download Conference Brochure
Download Registration Form

Research Inventory Reports

Bhattacharya, Sujit. Indian Patenting Activity in International and Domestic Patent System: Contemporary Scenario. Report No. PSA/2006/1. New Delhi: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, 2007. Download Full-Text

Krishna, V.V. (ed). Indian Country Profile: ERAWATCH Research Inventory Report for India. European Commission, 2009. Download Full-Text PDF

Krishna, V.V. (ed). Country Report on Innovation Policies - India 2008-09, European Union Network InnoPolicy Trendchart, European Commission, 2009. Download Full-Text PDF

Report on the Activities of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet. New Delhi: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, 2009. Report No. PSA/2009/1. Download Full-Text PDF

Past Experience, Cognitive Frames, and Entrepreneurship: Some Econometric Evidence from the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry

Bhaduri, Saradindu; Worch, Hagen (2008). Past Experience, Cognitive Frames, and Entrepreneurship: Some Econometric Evidence from the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry. Papers on Economics & Evolution Number 0804. Jena: Max-Planck Institute for Economics, 2008.

Abstract

The theoretical literature identifies three important entrepreneurial dimensions, namely discovering new opportunities, responsiveness to uncertainty, and coordination of a firm. In the empirical literature, past experience has been identified as having an important influence on organizational behavior. This literature, however, focuses predominantly on the impact of experience on new opportunities using a resource-based view and human capital perspective. In contrast, we draw upon the cognitive science literature to argue that past experience shapes an entrepreneur’s cognitive frame, and, hence, influences entrepreneurship in a more holistic manner. We provide econometric evidence of the impact of past experience on all three entrepreneurial dimensions from the small scale Indian pharmaceutical enterprises.

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Bhaduri, Saradindu; Ray, Amit Shovon (2009). "Co-evolution of IPR Policy and Technological Learning in Developing Countries: A Game-theoretic Model", Discussion Paper No. 09-04; Mexico City: GLOBELICS 2008 & New Delhi: Centre for International Trade and Development, SIS, JNU, 2009. Download Full-text PDF

Seminar on ICT Measurement and Indicators concluded in New Delhi

14-May-2009, New Delhi: The Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), organized a Seminar on ICT Measurement and Indicators in New Delhi (India) from 12 to 14 May 2009, to discuss on issues related to measurement of ICT access, infrastructure, usage and impact on the society in general, and on business, individuals, governance and education in particular.

To take advantage of the rapidly changing information society, governments need to monitor and benchmark progress in order to design and review national policies and strategies. In order to do so, reliable data and indicators on the access and use of ICTs, and their impact on development have to be defined and collected. Such data and indicators help governments design and evaluate ICT policies and strategies, compare their ICT developments with those in other countries, and adopt solutions to reduce the digital divide. In order to so, different agencies need to work together to identify priority areas and to examine ways of coordinating activities, to maximize available resources and achieve optimum results.

The Seminar was addressed to national ICT policymakers, regulatory agencies, national statistical offices, industry associations and academia. It covered issues related to indicators for infrastructure and access, households, business, education, and e-government; benchmarking the information society; measuring impact; measuring ICT and gender; security and trust in the online environment; statistics on ICT-enabled services; and capacity building for ICT measurement.

There was a session on Indicators on ICT in Education, where Mr. S. Venkataraman of UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) briefly introduced concepts of Information Literacy Indicators, Media Development Indicators, and Literacy Assessment and Monitoring Programme (LAMP) of UIS, which are very useful for measuring the information society.

In this Seminar, following manuals/ publications were extensively consulted for understanding of concepts and methodologies:

• Revisions and Additions to the Core List of ICT Indicators, Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, 2009.
• Manual for Measuring ICT Access and Use by Households and Individuals, International Telecommunication Union, 2009.
• Manual for the Production of Statistics on the Information Economy, revised edition, UNCTAD, 2009.
• Measuring ICT: the Global Status of ICT Indicators, Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, 2005.
• Measuring the Information Society: The ICT Development Index, International Telecommunication Union, 2009.
• Information and Communications Technology Statistics, Partnership on Measuring Information and Communication Technologies for Development, 2009.

The seminar provided a platform for national experts, policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders to discuss ICT indicators and topics that are important to national policymaking. The Seminar has made some suggestions to improve the availability of ICT statistics in India, such as:

• harmonization and scaling up of statistics available with deferent ministries, national statistical offices and other agencies;
• bridging the data gaps between available statistics and statistics required based on Revised Core List of ICT Indicators;
• adaptation of international statistical tools and guidelines in gathering, analyzing and presenting statistical data; and
• capacity building at the national level as well as state-level so that quality and reliability of data can be maintained.

Information Economy Report 2007-2008

Information Economy Report 2007-2008: Science and Technology for Development: the New Paradigm of ICT
Prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat. New York: United Nations, 2007

Highlights
The Information Economy Report 2008 - Science and technology for development: the new paradigm of ICT, analyses the current and potential contribution of information technology to knowledge creation and diffusion. It explores how ICTs help generate innovations that improve the livelihoods of the poor and support enterprise competitiveness. The report examines how ICTs affect productivity and growth and reflects on the need for a development-oriented approach to intellectual property rights in order to enable effective access to technology. ICT has also given rise to new models for sharing knowledge and collective production of ideas and innovations, known as "open access" models, which often bypass the incentive system provided by intellectual property rights.
The Report presents a current cross-section of themes and analysis that aim to inform and enable governments to understand the policy challenges and opportunities. The analysis identifies important areas of concern and best practices necessary for the formulation of targeted policy decisions to support and accelerate ICT diffusion. In particular, the Information Economy Report 2007-2008 addresses the following issues:

• Trends in ICT access and use consisting of basic ICT indicators and an analysis of how ICTs impact on enterprises in developing countries;
• The ICT producing sector and the emerging South examines the role of the sector from the perspective of South-South trade, while exploring issues of the relationship between ICTs and employment, FDI and outsourcing;
• Measuring the impact of ICT on productive efficiency through a case study of Thailand confirms that developing countries can benefit as much as developed ones from increasing ICT use;
• ICT, e-business and innovation policies highlights the need for balance between policy stability and flexibility to meet the needs of evolving ICTs and feedback from policy implementation;
• E-banking and e-payments explains the potential of ICTs to improve overall business efficiency and assist in bringing SMEs and micro-enterprises into the formal economy;
• ICTs for the poor are discussed within the scope of the increasing use of mobile telephones and supportive policy measures and the potential of telecentres to promote livelihoods by providing access to relevant information and business opportunities to rural and poor populations.

Table of Contents

• Introduction:: Science and Technology for Development: the New Paradigm of ICT
• Chapter 1: Trends in ICT Access and Use
• Chapter 2: The ICT Producing Sector and the Emerging South
• Chapter 3: Measuring the Impact of ICT on Production
• Chapter 4: ICT, E-Business and Innovation Policies in Developing Countries
• Chapter 5: E-Banking and E-Payments: Implications for Developing and Transition Economies
• Chapter 6: Mobile Telephony in Africa: Cross-Country Comparison
• Chapter 7: Promoting Livelihoods through Telecentres
• Chapter 8: Harmonizing Cyber Legislation at the Regional Level: The Case of ASEAN

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First Indian Youth Science Congress 2009

First Indian Youth Science Congress

Date: June 5-7, 2009

Venue: Chennai

Organized by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai; Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chennai; and SRM University, Chennai

Focal Theme 1: Youth and Shaping the Future of Innovations in Science for Societal Needs

Focal Theme 2: Your Planet Needs You: Unite to Combat Climate Change

India is a land of the youth with more than sixty percent of the population of 1.1 billion falling under the age of thirty-five. The opportunities for education in science and technology are growing. Our young scientists are making a mark in many areas of technology like biotechnology, space, atomic energy, information and communication, etc. Increasing number of IITs and Technical Universities are being established. There are also many Women’s and Rural Universities as well as Home Science Colleges. There are nearly sixty Agricultural, Veterinary and Fisheries Universities. Universities also exist in the field of Forestry. The time is, therefore, opportune to provide our young scholars and scientists an opportunity for sharing their views on how our country can progress not only in technology development but also in dissemination. How can we become world leaders in frontier areas of science and technology? How can our young scientists be nurtured to grow into Nobel Laureates?

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Manmohan Singh, while inaugurating the Indian Science Congress at Shillong on 3rd January 2009, made the following timely observation “The best science is done by young people. Our institutions must be receptive to the needs of young people. They must promote younger talent and allow youth to lead. Seniority and age may be relevant in bureaucratic systems, but scientific institutions must be led by intellectual leaders, irrespective of age”.

The Indian Youth Science Congress (IYSC) is being organized at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, GOI) Sriperumbudur, Chennai, TamilNadu during June 5-7, 2009. It intend to provide a voice to young scientists and scholars on how we as a nation can contribute more to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and knowledge based wealth.

The IYSC will provide a forum for young professionals in agriculture, science, technology and innovation to discuss and share the expertise and experiences on how to tap and utilize science, technology and innovation for India’s development. The programme will comprise of special lecture by eminent scientists, technical sessions on identified themes, and special forums for young scientists, poster sessions and exhibitions .

The congress will discuss and deliberate on following thematic areas with reference to application of science, technology and policy interventions

• Recent Advances in Life Sciences (Agriculture, Biotechnology etc)
• Recent Advances in Frontier Technologies (Space, Communication, Bioinformatics, Physical andChemical Technology, Energy, Nanotechnology etc)
• Climate Change and Mitigating Its ImpactConservation and Enhancement of Natural Resource (Biodiversity, Traditional Knowledge Systems, Water Quality etc)
• Ensuring Health Security (Medical Biotechnology, Pharmacology etc)
• Inculcating Scientific Temper at the Early Career Stages (Linking Science and Society)
• Enlarging the Opportunities for Self-employment

Participation is invited from young research scholars and students (B.Tech / M.Sc. / M.Tech / M.Phil/ Ph.D / Post Doc) to present their work relevant to the themes mentioned above. Students and scholars who are not presenting their work are also encouraged to register as observers without submitting any abstract, and participate in all the events of IYSC 2009.

Interested participants are requested to send the following on or before 15th May 2009, to the Organising secretary, IYSC 2009.

1. One page abstract (not applicable for observers)
2. Filled in registration form
3. Registration fee as demand draft (DD) drawn in favour of M.S. Swaminathan Research Fountation, payable at Chennai
4. Bonafide certificate form research supervisors for scholars and from Head of the Department or other competent authorities for students

Participants should also send their abstract by e-mail to ysc2009@mssrf.res.in. The abstracts will be reviewed and selected for presentation at IYSC 2009. Among the selected abstracts, some will be chosen for oral presentation and all others will have to be presented as posters. The selection of the abstract for oral or poster and the guidelines for preparation of the poster and oral presentation will be communicated by e-mail by 20th May 2009, and also published in the websites (www.mssrf.org, www.srmuniv.ac.in, www.rgniyd.gov.in). The participants whose abstract was not selected or presentation at IYSC 2009 can participate as observer.

Registration Fee

• Delegates: Rs. 1000
• Research Scholars: Rs. 600
• Students: Rs. 400

Participants are requested to arrange for their travel expenditure from their own resources. However, need based travel support will be provided to few participants on specific request and based on availability of resources. Accommodation for the participants will be provided for free in guesthouses and students hostels. Accommodation in Hotels will be arranged on payment basis.

Download

• IYSC Brochure
• Registration Form

Applications Invited for Fellowships by The New India Foundation

Applications Invited for Fellowships by The New India Foundation

In the sixty years since Independence, there has been a large body of work produced by Indian historians and social scientists. Taken singly, many of these studies are very impressive; viewed cumulatively, they add up to much less than what one might expect. The chief reason for this is the determining influence on scholarly practice of that single date: 15th August, 1947. Historians don't look beyond the attainment of Independence, whereas other social scientists don't look back at all. We have solid studies of the Congress under British rule, with books written about its operations' in different parts of India, yet there are no systematic studies of this most influential of political parties in the post-independence period. Again, there are numerous ethnographic accounts of the caste system. Yet, we have no analytical overview of caste since Independence.

We have had political scientists conducting field studies of every single election since 1952. But we have no comprehensive analyses of changes over time in voter behaviour, election propaganda, or election finance.

These examples could be multiplied manifold. The Republic of India is a Union of twenty-eight states, some larger than France and Germany. Yet not even the biggest or most important of these states have had their histories written. Again, there are no serious biographies of some Invited for of the key figures in our modem history: such as Sheikh Abdullah or C. N. Annadurai or A Z. Phizo or (to take figures from very different fields) Pandit Ravi Shankar or Dhirubhai Ambani.

It is this lack that the New India Foundation seeks to address, by sponsoring work of quality on modem India.

The New India Foundation invites applications for the fifth round of the New India Fellowships. Open only to Indian nationals, these Fellowships will be awarded for a period of one year, and will carry a stipend of Rs 70,000 a month. Fellowship holders shall be expected to write original books. Proposals should be oriented towards final publication, and outline a road map towards that destination. The Foundation is ecumenical as regards genre, theme, and ideology: the only requirement is that the proposed work contributes to the fuller understanding of independent India. Thus Fellowship holders may choose to write a memoir, or a work of reportage, or a thickly footnoted academic study. Their books could be oriented towards economics, or politics, or culture. They could be highly specific-an account of a single decade or a single region--or wide-ranging, such as a countrywide overview.

Since 2004, a total of twenty New India Foundation Fellowships have been awarded, for books to be written on such topics as the social history of Telugu films, the reform of personal laws, refugee politics in north-eastern India, the history of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, debates on the death penalty in India, and the science and politics of biodiversity conservation.

The first books to emanate from the New India Fellowships are Harish Damodaran's India's New Capitalists (Pal grave Macmillan), Vasanthi Srinivasan's Gandhi's Conscience-Keeper (Permanent Black), and Dinesh Shanna's India's Long Revolution (HarperCollins India).

How to Apply

Applicants for the New India Fellowships for 2009 are invited to submit their

• CV with contact details (email ID mandatory)
• Book proposal
• A writing sample of at least 5000 words (published or unpublished)

Send these to:

The Managing Trustee

The New India Foundation

22 A Brunton Road, Bangalore 560025

These may be sent before 31 July 2009 by post or courier. Email applications will not be entertained. However, specific queries may be addressed to ramguha[at]gmail.com

The fellowships will be decided by a jury whose members are Andre Beteille, Ramachandra Guha, Niraja GopalJayal, Nandan Nilekani, and N. Ravi. Further details about the Foundation may be found at http://www.newindiafoundation.org/

NISCAIR Short Term Training Courses on Science Communication, IPR, Digital Information Management, etc.

NISCAIR, CSIR, New Delhi conducts short term courses in the field of Science Communication, IPR, Digital Information Management and other areas such as:

• Access and management of e-resources
• Bibliometrics tools and techniques for measurement and evaluation of research outputs
• Design and development of digital libraries using DSpace
• Design and development of digital libraries using GSDL
• Fundamentals of IPR
• Herbarium techniques
• Information Technology for Information Management
• Intellectual Property Management
• Knowledge management for librarians
• Networking
• Patent and Prior Art Search for Patenting
• Patent Drafting
• Science communication and Science Popularization
• Technical Writing and Editing
• Web 2.0 applications for libraries

Download Application Form
Download Short Term Training Course Calendar (2009-2010)

For details, please visit: http://niscair.res.in/ActivitiesandServices/HRD/hrd.html and for any clarification, feel free to contact Dr. Narendra Kumar, In-Charge, Training Division (+91-11-26965094 / +91-11-26863617) at narendrakumar[at]niscair.res.in

Global Industrial R&D Conclave 2009 : Strategies to Drive Growth in Economic Crisis

Global Industrial R&D Conclave 2009: Strategies to Drive Growth in Economic Crisis

Coinciding with India's National Technology Day

11-12 May 2009

Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi

Organized by

Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA)

Confederation of Indian Industry &

Department of Science & Technology, Government of India

Background
Recognising the importance of research, technology & innovation to emerge from this historic global economic crisis, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, is creating a platform to discuss and share models, best practices and R&D strategies, to encourage innovation-driven growth, commercial research and to convert knowledge to wealth.The economic meltdown has created alarming conditions for R&D- and innovation-led businesses where risk capital is scarce which has placed R&D investments at lower priority. However, some leading innovative firms have been less impacted by the crisis due to their technology competitiveness, new product development and greater efficiency through investments in research. Governments across the globe are trying to boost the economy and industrial growth through strategic policy changes by creating a more favourable R&D ecosystem.The Global Industrial R&D Conclave would be a forum for R&D Heads/ CTOs/ Business Strategists of leading innovative firms, heads of government programmes promoting industrial R&D, research directors of premier technical universities and VCs/angel investors to share their experiences and strategies to overcome the economic crisis. It would also be a learning and sharing platform for relevant stakeholders to understand the value of technological competitiveness in a crisis situation.

R&D Ecosystem: Issues & Challenges
The Global Industrial R&D Conclave will debate on issues and challenges of the R&D ecosystem, with specific reference to the global economic crisis.

• R&D expenditure vis-a-vis profitability
• Converting knowledge to wealth: IP generation, protection, leasing and selling
• Developing Industry - Academia Linkage
• Government initiatives to support industry for R&D
• Venture capital and angel funding
• High Technology Trade and manufacturing competitiveness
• Industry partnership in long term research of national importance
• International and Collaborative Industrial R&D

Plenary Sessions

• Investment in R&D – a strategic tool to emerge stronger during global crisis – successful models
• Government Initiatives to stimulate innovation and attract investment in R&D - Successful models
• Industry-Academia – Government Partnership: Complementing Strengths
• Venture Funding in the Post crisis world

For Registration Contact:
CII Secretariat: Ms.Divya Arya, Project Assistant, Confederation of Indian Industry at divya.arya[at]cii.in.

Download Agenda & Registration Form

More Information

Corporate Misgovernance at the World Bank

Corporate Misgovernance at the World Bank

by Ashwin Kaja & Eric Werker

Harvard Business School Working Paper 2009

Abstract:
This paper examines the politics of corporate governance at the world's largest appropriations committee, the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors, and exposes a weakness in the design of the World Bank's decision-making structure. Any large public organization faces a challenge of representation and management. Since all decisions cannot be made by all members, founders often grant a more nimble body with decision-making powers. But representatives on the decision-making body may face a temptation to govern in the interests of their own wallet or narrow constituency rather than in the interests of the larger body. In 2008, the Bank's two primary component institutions — the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) — committed nearly $25 billion in loans and grants through some 300 development projects around the globe. Where did it go? By exploring the political dynamics and corporate governance of an international appropriations committee, we not only learn about international organizations but also the nature of the international system itself.

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FAO Book on the Socio-Economic Impacts of Non-Transgenic Biotechnologies in Developing Countries

Socio-Economic Impacts of Non-Transgenic Biotechnologies in Developing Countries: The Case of Plant Micropropagation in Africa. By Andrea Sonnino, Zephaniah Dhlamini, Fabio Maria Santucci and Patrizio Warren. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2009. ISBN 978-92-5-106076-6.

Table of Contents
Part 1
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contributors
List of abbreviations
Part 2
1. Assessing the socio-economic impacts of non-transgenic biotechnologies in developing countries
2. Survey on micropropagation utilization in selected African countries
3. Case studies from Uganda and Zimbabwe
References

Abstract
This publication aims to contribute to the knowledge of socio-economic impacts of the adoption of biotechnologies, focusing on non-transgenic biotechnologies (i.e. biotechnologies other than genetic engineering). The first paper discusses some approaches used in innovations’ impact assessment and presents a general overview of the literature about the impacts of nontransgenic biotechnologies. Some studies which have explored the extent of the application of micropropagation in Africa, with special attention to Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are presented in the second paper. The case studies from Uganda and Zimbabwe, included in the third paper, present the main findings of two field studies, carried out with an anthropological approach, aimed at better understanding the motivations and conditions favouring the innovation process, and at identifying direct and indirect impacts on livelihoods, derived from the adoption of planting materials generated through micropropagation techniques.

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International Essay Contest "The Role of Science in Building a Better World"

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People Organized by The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO

Theme: "The Role of Science in Building a Better World"

Scientific progress has brought many benefits to humanity, while some applications of science have had adverse impacts. What kind of science and technology do you think is needed for realizing a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable world for all? Please express your vision for the future of science, including examples of studies or researches you wish to engage in. The United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World" and 2005-2014 as the "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development." Not only should young people benefit from these global initiatives, but they should be empowered to play a leading role in them. The theme of this year's International Essay Contest is "The role of science in building a better world." Young people from around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas on this theme.

Guidelines:

1. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 30, 2009) in one of the following age categories:

a) Children (ages up to 14)

b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)

2. Essays must be 800 words or less, typed or printed in English, French, Spanish or German.

3. Entries may be submitted by postal mail or e-mail. (Email entries must be in text or MS Word format, with the cover page and essay sent together as one document.)

4. Essays must be original and unpublished.

5. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.

6. Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizers.

Deadline:

Entries must be received by June 30, 2009.

Awards:

The following awards will be given in the Children’s category and Youth category respectively:

1st Prize: Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$1,000) ... 1 entrant

2nd Prize: Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$500) ... 2 entrants

3rd Prize: Certificate and gift ... 5 entrants

Honorable Mention: Certificate and gift ... 25 entrants

* 1st prize winners will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan scheduled for November 2009. (Travel expenses will be covered by the organizers.)

** All prize winners will be announced in November 2009 on the Goi Peace Foundation web site (www.goipeace.or.jp) and UNESCO web site (www.unesco.org/youth).

Please send your entries to:

International Essay Contest

c/o The Goi Peace Foundation

1-4-5 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo 102-0093 Japan

Email: essay[at]goipeace.or.jp

Further Details:

http://www.goipeace.or.jp/pdf/2009/essay-contest2009_e.pdf or http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0901.html

Systems of Innovation, Learning and Capabilities: Challenges for India and Brazil

A Presentation by

Prof. Arlindo Vilaschi

Federal University at Espirito Santo State (Brazil)

on

Systems of Innovation, Learning and Capabilities: Challenges for India and Brazil

Delivered on 1st April 2009 at CSSP, SSS, JNU

This presentation discusses features of the learning process that takes place in Innovation Knowledge and production. It looks at the constraints and possibilities that foster economic competitiveness and social capabilities. It argues that neo-schumpeterian frameworks suggest that innovation learning is bound by technological availabilities.

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From the Knowledge-Based Economy To a Wisdom-Based Society

Presentation of

Prof. Bob Jessop

Director, Institute of Advanced Studies, Lancaster University, England

on

From the Knowledge-Based Economy To A Wisdom-Based Society

Delivered on 30 March 2009 at SLS Auditorium, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

This presentation covers Knowledge-based Economy (KBE), Wisdom-based Society, National Innovation Systems, Emerging Knowledge Economies and Indian National Knowledge Commission.

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Workshop for Research Scholars 2009, CSSS Calcutta, 4-10 November

Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
Workshop for Research Scholars 2009
4-10 November 2009
(Beginning Doctoral, Doctoral and Post-doctoral Scholars)
Social Sciences Workshop 3
Theme: Violation and Violence

Description
What constitutes violation? How is it linked to violence? Violations of rights, freedoms, and human dignity are hardly random occurrences in our times. They are perpetrated by both private parties and public authorities. Resistance to such acts may also entail violation of 'unjust' laws, policies or practices in the shape of, say, civil disobedience or armed resistance. Violence — political, economic, cultural or domestic — is at times violation's ally; at others it may take on the form of counter-hegemonic protest or anti-hierarchical anarchic dissent. Arguably, 'violation' and 'violence' are contradictory resources having both hegemonic and radical potentials. To address the conceptual and methodological riddles that surround these ideas we need an 'interdisciplinary' prism, that is to say, a combination of historical, political, economic, cultural and sociological optics. This is particularly true in today's context. Live as we do in times when the experience of 'terror', both in terms of real events and their media-representations, is getting increasingly integrated to our everyday, the 'violation-violence' nexus demands being examined from perspectives that are not bound exclusively by strict disciplinary protocols. The Workshop will deal with these and similar issues. It is part of a project on 'Training in New Social Science Research Methods' being run by the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC).

Eligibility
General Criterion: Candidates with postgraduate degree in any of the social science disciplines (e.g., Economics, History, Sociology, Political Science" Cultural Studies [Literature, Film Studies, Philosophy etc.], Development Studies, Environmental Science, Geography, Social Anthropology, Education)
For Beginning Doctoral Scholars: Candidates who have either just begun or intend to pursue doctoral research.
For Doctoral and Post-doctoral Scholars: (i) Candidates who are either about to complete or have recently completed their doctoral research; (ii) preferably within 35 years of age.

Format

• The Workshop will have two parts.
• Part One: 'Plenary Session'. The selected candidates will be divided into groups of 3. Each group will be assigned a set of Reading Material upon which the group will have to make a presentation.
• Part Two: 'Participants' Presentations'. A Beginning Doctoral Scholar will be required to present a twenty-minute 'Proposal for Research' and Doctoral and Postdoctoral Scholars will be required to present a forty-minute Paper. Resource Persons will interact with participants in both the sessions.
• Spread over 6 working days the workshop will be held from 4 November to 10 November 2009 at the CSSSC's Baishnabghata-Patuli campus in Kolkata. The Workshop does not have any fees. Local hospitality and travel expenses of outstation participants will be covered by CSSSC with partial funding from Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT).

Deadline for receiving applications: 15 May 2009

Application: The Beginning Doctoral applicants are required to send a 500-word description of their proposed research and the Doctoral and postdoctoral applicants are required to send a 1000-word description of their papers along with curriculum vitae. Selected applicants will have to submit their final papers by 31 August 2009.

Please send your applications to the following address:
Ranjana Dasgupta
Research-Officer, CSSSC-NRTT Programme
Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
R-1, Baishnabghata-Patuli Township
Kolkata 700 094
e-mail: programs[at]cssscal.org

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