The Key to Resolving Straw Burning: Farmers’ Expertise | by P Pandey, G Valkenburg, A Mamidipudi, & W.E. Bijker

The Key to Resolving Straw Burning: Farmers' Expertise

by Poonam Pandey, Govert Valkenburg, Annapurna Mamidipudi, Wiebe E. Bijker

Maastricht University, 2017, Policy brief on missing cultural perspectives. 

Key insights

• The problem of straw burning is persistent: rules and regulations nor technological alternatives have been able to end it. This points at the need for a much deeper understanding of the underlying causes.
  
• Using agricultural waste for energy is not only a technological and supply-chain problem, but requires integrated policies from the agricultural and energy-domain ministries.
  
• Without the collaboration of farmers, no solution will work. Farmers thus need to be involved in finding solutions that help their communities and livelihoods, values their skills and knowledge, and respects their identities and dignity.
  
• The problem has such diverse technological, economic and cultural dimensions, that a diversity of solutions should be pursued. This diversity should include localized and community-based solutions. One centralised industry-led bioenergy approach, such as 2G ethanol, will not accommodate the diverse forms in which the problem exists.
  

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access) 

A Talk by Prof. Stephen Stigler on "Mahalanobis & Fisher: Mathematical Statistics As A Global Enterprise" | ISI Delhi on Friday, 8th December

Online Registration is open for a talk by Professor Stephen Stigler from the University of Chicago on "Mahalanobis & Fisher: Mathematical Statistics As A Global Enterprise" on Friday, December 8^th, 2017 from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM at the Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi (ISI Delhi Auditorium; Address: 7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg, New Delhi, 110016).

We look forward to meeting you at the event.

      

 

New Book | Science Diplomacy: India and the World, Global Science Cooperation Opportunities | by Dr Pawan Sikka

New Book

Science Diplomacy: India and the World, Global Science Cooperation Opportunities

edited by Pawan Sikka, 2017, Synergy Books India, ISBN 9789382059752. 

About the Book

Science Diplomacy, in the age of the accelerating science and technology is increasingly becoming a central element of the foreign policy and a soft power. This book, Science Diplomacy: India and the World: Global Science Cooperation Opportunities, points out that science is now becoming even more critical in the complex international relations while addressing global challenges such as Climate Change, Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Natural Catastrophize, Diseases and Disaster Mitigation etc. It Covers: Science, Technology & Innovation in India; National Policy of India on International Science Cooperation; India's Engagement with the World; Science Diplomacy and Diplomacy for Science; Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement; lndo-US Nuclear Energy Deal; FDI and technology transfer; Make in India and Intellectual Property Rights etc. India should create a crop of Science-Diplomats in foreign service to get advantage of the World Science. It is a FIRST book of its kind and is a useful one for the science policy-planners, researchers and readers and students of political science, International relations, foreign affairs etc. A must for the libraries in India and abroad. 

About the Author

Dr. Pawan Sikka (b. 1944) is a former Scientist-G, Advisor, Government of India, Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) New Delhi. Prior to it as Director (International Relations) for about 7-8 years, he coordinated the Bilateral and Multi-lateral programmes of Iwo international cooperation towards extending the frontiers of new and emerging fields in science and technology. He was Leader of the Indian delegation to SAARC Group Meeting on Science and Technology at Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1995. He has received his M.Sc., Ph.D. as well as, D.Sc. degrees in Physics. He is recipient of the Commonwealth Visiting Fellowship (1984-85), at the University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K for carrying out Science & Technology Policy and Society and Government related studies, to shape the national and international development agenda. He also received Italian, Sweden, Switzerland, UNESCO, etc. scholarships for understanding the progress of science, technology and industry there. He is a well-read author and widely travelled in India and abroad. He has also delivered special lectures on Science Policy related issues to the M.Phil. and Ph.D. students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a Life-Member of the: Materials Research Society of India, Semi-Conductor Society of India, Association of British Scholars (British Council, New Delhi), and Oxford and Cambridge Society of India.

​Further Details

ISID Workshop on Audio-Visual Media as a Tool in Research for Social Science Researchers | 29 January – 03 February, New Delhi

Workshop on Audio-Visual Media as a Tool in Research for Social Science Researchers

January 29 – February 03, 2018

Venue: Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

The Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) is organizing a six-day workshop on Audio-Visual Media as a Tool in Research for Social Science Researchers during January 29 – February 03, 2018. The workshop is sponsored by the Northern Regional Centre, Indian Council of Social Science Research (NRC-ICSSR), New Delhi.

Print media is a format which most researchers and scholars use extensively to bring out their fi ndings and raise issues. In recent years, Audio-Visual Media (AVM), and the technology needed for its production, is becoming increasingly accessible, both in terms of ease of use, as well as cost. Digital media is being used by government departments, corporate houses, non-governmental organisations and others. However, social scientists and researchers in academic institutions have yet not fully realized the potential of integrating audiovisuals in their work.

The focus of the workshop is to familiarise the participants with AVM tools and motivate researchers and academics to use this medium as a tool, to not only enhance the content but also reach a wider audience and have greater impact of their research. Practical hands-on training in production of audio-video material will also be emphasised. Broad elements of the programme are: (i) understanding AVM – mass media in India and its use in various fi elds like social sector, health and corporate sector; (ii) AVM as a tool in research – providing visual insight, supplementing other data, confi rming or refuting fi ndings, collecting video-based data, subjectivity, authenticity and ethical issues; (iii) presentation and dissemination – effective communication of research fi ndings, presentation skills and the new technology, integrating audio-visual data into powerpoint presentations, the internet; (iv) AVM production techniques – understanding the technology, basic camera equipment, editing software, streaming video; and (v) hands-on production of AV output.

Young researchers/teachers in academic institutions, colleges and university departments who are primarily from the social sciences discipline and whose work requires field surveys are eligible to apply. All applications should be made through respective departments/ institution. The batch will consists of 25–30 participants and selection will be based on relevance of research areas on all-India basis. Preference will be given to suitable SC/ST candidates applying with proper documentation. The selected scholars will be paid to and fro 2nd class railway fare from the place of study/work. For outstation participants there is provision for boarding and lodging at the Institute for the duration of the programme.

Those desirous of participating in the programme may kindly send their brief CV along with a write-up of around 500 words on their research topic so as to reach the Programme Coordinator, preferably through email at avmprog@gmail.com, before December 25, 2017.

Further Details and Workshop Updates

EPW Article "Science and the Scientist in a Changing Climate"

Science and the Scientist in a Changing Climate

by Radha Gopalan, Economic & Political Weekly, 2016,  51(28): 30-35. 

Abstract: Is sustainability an idea, a science, a philosophy or a way of life? The premise of this article is that sustainability is all of these and more. Furthermore, science and technology of both today and the future must be re-visioned to understand and enable sustainability.

Full-text PDF

JNU Workshop on Data Analysis using SPSS | 7-8 December

http://jnu.ac.in/mcec_register 
​

Call for Applications: Faculty/ Scientist Positions in CSIR/ SAU/ ISID

http://www.sau.int/recruitment/jobs.html

ISID Faculty Positions

The Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), a national level policy-oriented research institution sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), wishes to recruit faculty positions at the levels of Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor with specialisation in industrial economics, corporate sector, trade, investment & technology, industrial finance and banking, competition, sectoral studies and other issues allied to industrialisation. Prospective candidates for the position of Professor should possess a doctoral degree and evidence of published policy relevant work of high quality with a minimum of 10 published papers in reputed national/international journals/books or equivalent ones. They should have been actively engaged in research/teaching for a minimum of 12 years and not less than 7 years as Associate Professor, excluding the period of Ph.D. research work, in research institutions/universities. For the position of Associate Professor, the candidates should possess a doctoral degree and evidence of published policy relevant work with a minimum of 5 publications as books and/or research/policy papers in refereed journals of repute. They should have been actively engaged in research/teaching for a minimum of 8 years, excluding the period of Ph. D. research work, in research institutions/universities. For the position of Assistant Professor, the candidates should possess a doctoral degree in social sciences or any discipline relevant to the work of ISID and the demonstrated ability to undertake independent research. Preference will be given to those having publications in reputed journals. Those who have submitted their thesis can also apply. The Selection Committee reserves the right to select from outside the list of applicants and to offer higher salary to candidates having outstanding research experience and publications to their credit. ISID follows the UGC pattern of scales of pay for faculty. The other benefits include NPS, gratuity, medical insurance coverage & additional medical reimbursement, LTC, leave encashment, etc. ISID follows the reservation policy for SC/ST/OBC. The concessions and relaxation in qualifying standards such as age, qualifications etc. will be applicable as per the Govt. of India reservation rules. The prescribed application can be downloaded from the Institute's website <http://isid.org.in>. Completed applications (in five sets) with copies of publications, testimonials, attested certificates, mark-sheets, a short statement of proposed research, along with names of two referees, should reach the Director, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, 4 Institutional Area Phase 2, Vasant Kunj, P.B. No. 7513, New Delhi – 110070, before December 15, 2017. Advance copy of the application can be sent by email at director.isid@gmail.com. Applications received after the last date will not be entertained and the Institute takes no responsibility for any delay in receipt or loss in postal transit. Canvassing in any form by the candidates will result in disqualification of the candidature. The Institute reserves the right not to recruit any candidate if no suitable candidates are found. The ISID does not entertain any correspondence on short listing or selection. APLLICATION FORM IN PDF click here to download