Friday, May 30, 2025

CfPs: JNU-SCSNEI National Seminar on Ecology, Sustainability and Community Practices in North East India | 27-28 Nov

Special Centre for the Study of North East India (SCSNEI)
Jawaharlal Nehru University

Is organizing a National Seminar on

"Ecology, Sustainability and Community Practices in North East India"

27-28 November 2025
at Jawaharlal Nehru University

 

Call for Abstracts

As part of the Eastern Himalayan and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots, North East India hosts approximately 8,000 species of flowering plants, 800 bird species, and numerous endemic mammals. The region supports diverse ecosystems, ranging from the subtropical rainforests of Manipur to the alpine meadows of Sikkim and the vast Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam. These ecosystems provide critical services, such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and livelihoods for millions.

 

However, North East India faces significantly critical environmental challenges in recent times. Deforestation, infrastructure development, and illegal logging, has led to habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. Climate change compounds these issues, with rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and frequent extreme weather events, such as floods in Assam, landslides in Arunachal Pradesh and GLOF in Sikkim.

 

Community practices in North East India are rooted in traditional ecological knowledge and therefore foster sustainable resource management. In spite of their resilience, however, the community practices in the region face threats from infrastructural projects, land privatization, technological intervention and policy gaps. While community-led conservation has drawn inspiration from broader environmental movements, the region's unique socio-ecological context requires smart and well thought-out solutions that integrate traditional knowledge with modern sustainability frameworks.

 

The seminar aims to facilitate dialogue among our young scholars on issues around ecology, sustainability, and community practices in North East India, contributing to the Viksit Bharat vision. It will also highlight successful models, such as Sikkim's organic farming and Assam's community-based flood adaptation strategies, while addressing challenges like climate vulnerabilities and policy implementation. The conference seeks to co-create strategies for ecological resilience, sustainable development, and community empowerment in the region and its surrounding milieu.

 

We invite abstracts from the young scholars in Social Sciences, North East Studies, Himalayan Studies, Border Studies, and related fields. Submissions should be 250-300 words, clearly outlining the research focus, methodology, and relevance to the conference sub themes, accompanied by 4-6 keywords.

 

Eligibility:
•    PhD scholars
•    Young faculty at colleges, universities, or research institutes
•    Emerging researchers affiliated with recognized research organizations and  policy institutes

 

Submission Guidelines:
Abstracts should engage with any of the sub-themes of the conference: Cultural Narratives of Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change and Community Resilience, Sustainable Livelihoods through Agro-biodiversity and Eco-tourism, Social Dimensions of Green Economies, Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Heritage, Gender and Youth in Sustainability, Community-Based Governance,  and Policy & Social Justice. Submit abstracts as a Word document to scsneijnuseminars@gmail.com with the subject line "Abstract Submission: Seminar 2025." Include a brief bio note (50 to 100 words) detailing institutional affiliation and contact information.

 

Key Dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 July 2025
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: 7 August 2025
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 15 October 2025

 

Conference Mode: Hybrid (in-person at JNU and virtual, subject to funding)

 

Selected papers may be published in a peer-reviewed edited volume or a reputed journal of a special issue. The conference provides a platform for shaping policy-relevant discussions on sustainable development in North East India.

 

For any further inquiry, contact Vimal Khawas/G Amarjit Sharma in the given email address.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Vol. 5, No. 5: Supporting library workers

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May 2025 —  Vol. 5, No. 5
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SUPPORTING LIBRARY WORKERS ISSUE

Unlike any other time in recent history, librarians across the globe, particularly public librarians and library workers, find themselves on the front lines of access work, fighting every day to protect access to information and freedom of expression, the foundational principles of our profession. They do this through protection of materials, policy making, programming and services, big and small advocacy actions and technical practices and expertise.


Whatever your reason for becoming a librarian or staying one, whatever your reason for joining IFLA as a member or volunteer or enthusiast, we are here for you. We hope you enjoy the articles brought to you this month – honouring and showcasing the library worker.

IFLA Highlights

With the results of the IFLA Elections released on 5 May and preparations continuing to accelerate for the World Library and Information Congress in August, IFLA's leadership has been strongly focused on delivering on these key aspects of our Federation's operations.


Nonetheless, both President Vicki McDonald and Secretary General underlined their appreciation and support for the work of Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress. Vicki also spoke about the IFLA Trend Report at the South Australian Public Libraries Conference, and sent greetings for the AMBAC (Mexico) and Silk Road International Alliance conferences. Sharon in turn gave speeches at the Europe and Middle East and North Africa Regional Division Committees' mid-term meetings, as well as the Fiesole Retreat in Italy.

WLIC logo with text: WLIC updates. 2025 Astana

IFLA WLIC 2025 Congress programme now available

Need a reason to join us in Astana this August for IFLA WLIC 2025? With almost 200 sessions planned and even more on the way, the upcoming Congress in Kazakhstan will give you many reasons!

Early Bird deadline extended to 5 June 📣

With the Early Bird registration deadline extended, this is your chance to save big on registration fees for the World Library and Information Congress in Astana — IFLA's first-ever Congress in Central Asia.

Picture of a group of people at a library. Text: From the field

IFLA releases its Code of Conduct for Volunteers

IFLA is pleased to announce the official release of the IFLA Code of Conduct for Volunteers, a comprehensive framework designed to guide ethical behaviour, professionalism and accountability across all levels of the Federation.

📖 On library workers 📚

IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award winners 2025

In collaboration with PressReader, the IFLA Management and Marketing Section is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award.


This award celebrates exceptional library marketing campaigns that showcase innovation, impact, and community engagement. This year, we were thrilled to receive almost 100 outstanding and diverse submissions from around the world.

Fostering a dialogical culture of developing and documenting new ideas at workplace

While informal engagements are considered viable ways of expressing views freely as opposed to formal meetings, dialogue-centred forums seem to be reaping benefits.


Read how the IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group uses forums for dialogue and discussion around issues facing new professionals.

Picture of megaphones, text: policy and advocacy

IFLA–UNESCO School Library Manifesto endorsed

IFLA MLCE Guidelines for effective, easy to implement, low-to-no resource media literacy interventions for libraries and information professionals  

We are glad to share the output of this project with the library community! The guidelines are a key output of the Media Literacy Case for Educators (MLCE) project that ran under the 'Everywhere, All the Time' exhibit and workshops.

Accelerate climate advocacy with new library research

Libraries and AI

Picture of a globe. Text: Regional focus

Documentary Heritage Definitions: A Southern African perspective

Europe Regional Division Committee mid-term meeting held in Istanbul, Türkiye

On 12th and 13th of May 2025 the Europe Regional Division Committee organised its mid-term meeting focusing on collaboration opportunities under the theme "Regional Cooperation in the Library Field in Europe". The meeting, which was attended by librarians from across Europe, took place in the beautiful MEF University and Library in Istanbul.

Standing up and speaking out: Calling for responses to our 2025 Regional Advocacy Priorities Survey

Help inform and shape IFLA's advocacy work in the coming years, as well as contributing to a snapshot of the field and its priorities to support the work of colleagues globally.


Deadline: 9 June 2025

Speech bubbles made of paper. Text: Open calls

IFLA invites translations of its new Volunteer Code of Conduct

IFLA welcomes support in translating the IFLA Code of Conduct for Volunteers 2025. If you are interested, please contact us at communications@ifla.org to receive the official template and instructions.

Librarians shaping the OER agenda: Navigating copyright, OER advocacy, and infrastructure solutions — Call for proposals

IFLA Section on Education and Training (SET) are interested in hearing about your practical experience and research in the dynamic field of open educational resources requiring various learning competences and abilities for independent learning.


Submit your proposals by 4 June 2025

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Picture of two people talking. Text: Member Plaza. Not a Member yet? Click to join IFLA!

📢 Members, it's renewal season!

We're delighted that so many of you have already chosen to continue this incredible journey with us. For those still deciding – check your inbox and renew by 30 June.


Questions? We're here at membership@ifla.org


Let's keep growing, connecting, and creating impact together!

Need to update your member details?

If you're already part of the IFLA member community, it's important to ensure your membership details are up to date!


Whether you've changed your email, moved to a new address, or your organisation has a new director, updating is quick and easy.

New members, welcome! 🌟

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

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