CfP: GIAN JNU Training Course on Spatial Data Analytics | 26-30 December

Call for Participation

GIAN JNU Training Course on Spatial Data Analytics

26-30 December 2016, JNU, New Delhi

Invited Faculty: Prof. Shashi Shekher, Department of Computer Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

A course proposed under the MHRD GIAN programme to be offered by the School of Computer and System Sciences, JNU

Overview: Spatial data analytics is concerned with analysis of data describing geographic phenomena (e.g., climate) or instrumented physical environment (e.g., roads, building). It is important for societal applications in sustainable development, energy, mobility, public safety, public health, as well as emerging location-based services such as local advertisement and mobile commerce (e.g., Uber).

Objectives: This course introduces the fundamental ideas and research challenges underlying the emerging spatial data analytics systems for spatial database management, spatial data mining, and spatial network engines underlying location based services.

Teaching and Learning Methods: 5 days x 3 hours (2 hours of lecture + 1 hour of tutorial) per day

Learning Modules

Module 1: Introduction

Module 2: Spatial Query Languages

Module 3: Spatial Networks and Location Based Services

Module 4: Spatial Data Mining

Module 5: Emerging Trends, Research Challenges

Registration and Fees

Prior registration is mandatory for ALL students as per the procedure provided on the GIAN web portal.

The participation fees for taking the course is as follows:

• Ph.D./ M.Tech./M.Phil. Students: INR 1000/-
  
• Faculty: INR 2500/-
  
• Members of Government Research Organizations: INR 5000/-
  
• Members of Industry/Private Research Institution: INR 10,000/-
  
• Participants from abroad: US $500/-
  

The above fee includes all instructional materials for tutorials and assignments, laboratory equipment usage charges.

Invited Faculty: Prof. Shashi Shekhar is a McKnight Distinguished University Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University o f Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. He is a key difference-maker for the field of GIS by the most popular GIS textbook. He has a distinguished academic record that includes 300+ refereed papers, a popular textbook on Spatial Databases (Prentice Hall, 2003) and an authoritative Encyclopedia of GIS (Springer, 2008). He has also received the IEEE-CS Technical Achievement Award, and the UCGIS Education Award and w a s elected an IEEE Fellow as well as an AAAS Fellow. His recent research results played a critical role in evacuation route planning for homeland security and received multiple recognitions including the CTS Partnership Award for significant impact on transportation. Prof. Shashi Shekhar is serving as a co-Editorin-Chief of Geo-Informatica, an International Journal on Advances in Computer Sciences for GIS (Springer), and a series editor for the Springer-Briefs on GIS. He has been member of the editorial committee of a number of ACM and IEEE journals in the area of GIS, Spatial informatics. 

Host Faculties

Dr. Ayesha Choudhary, Assistant Professor, School of Computer and System Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her current research interests are in data analytics, computer vision and machine learning. 

Prof. Sonajharia Minz Professor, School of Computer and System Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her current research interest are in spatial data analytics, GIS and machine learning.

Contact information: ayeshac@mail.jnu.ac.in,ayesha978@gmail.com, sonaminz@mail.jnu.ac.in, sona.minz@gmail.com

Online Registration

Online Brochure

CurrentScience article | Institutionalization of Grassroots Innovation in India

Institutionalization of Grassroots Innovation in India
by Olga V. Ustyuzhantseva
Current Science, 2015, 108(8), 1476-1482.

Abstract: India's economy has a large informal sector, which is generally associated with low labour productivity and poverty in the country. India became the first country to recognize the innovative ability of the informal sector and support it. Grassroots innovations scouted in various parts of India are now provided a complete cycle of support and integrated into the formal sector through networking cooperation with research institutions, businesses and governmental organizations at various levels. This article traces the genesis of the system of support for grassroots innovation in India through the institutionalization of the innovative activity of the informal sector. The specifics of this process can be taken into consideration by countries wishing to unleash the innovative potential of the informal sector.

Keywords: Grassroots, incubation, innovation, microfinance, system.

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CfPs: 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences & Health Innovations: Making Health Public | 22-24 May | Tomsk, Russia

Third International Conference on Social Sciences & Health Innovations: Making Health Public

May 22-24, 2017
Tomsk, Russia

Call for Application Deadline: January 15, 2017

Organized by Maastricht University (the Netherlands), and Tomsk State University (the Russian Federation), with participation from Siberian State Medical University (the Russian Federation)

The goals of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health have long been the locus of efforts by states, cities and other actors in the public health field. But exactly does the 'public' stand for in public health? Public refers to collectives and solidarities on a local, national and global scale; how are they made, maintained and legitimized amidst diversity of the globalizing world? Public also refers to the responsibilities of public institutions for health, and engagement of these institutions with people's concerns. However, during the last decades it has become clear that there are often big gaps between institutional perspectives and the perspectives of communities and citizens on health and ways to improve it. One often wonders, where the publics of public health are. This conference aims to explore how health is, and can be, made public.

 

Conference speakers:

• Tiago Moreira (Reader at School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University)
• Martine Bouman (Scientific Director of the Center for Media & Health and Prof. Entertainment Media and Social Change, Erasmus University Rotterdam)
• Vikram Patel (Professor of International Mental Health and Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow in Clinical Science, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; the Pershing Square Professor of Global Health, Harvard University) – to be confirmed
• Susanne Bauer (Associate Professor at the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo)
• Klasien Horstman (Professor of Philosophy of Public Health, Maastricht University)

 

Submit your paper or panel abstract:

We welcome both individual paper proposals and proposals for closed thematic panels. Please submit your applications via the electronic form by 15 January 2017. Individual paper proposals should be submitted here; Panel proposals should be submitted here. If you have any questions contact the conference organizers: healthinnovations2017@gmail.com.
Individual paper submissions should be limited to 600 words (including a short CV up to 100 words). The title of the paper should be limited to 10 words. To assist the program chairs in grouping the papers into sessions, please add three keywords. Panel proposals should include a title, panel description (up to 300 words), and a list of panel speakers (not more than 6 panelists) with their affiliations and titles of the conference presentations.
This conference is the third international event organized as a collaborative endeavor between Maastricht University (the Netherlands), and Tomsk State University (the Russian Federation), with participation from Siberian State Medical University (the Russian Federation). The previous conference in the series took place in 2015 and was titled Social Sciences and Medical Innovations: Doing things together (for details see).

Language of the Conference: English.

For more information please see the Call for Proposals or visit the conference webpage: http://en.past-centre.ru/2016/10/fincall/

Call for Applications | S.T.E.A.M. School: an Indo-French Partnership Program driven at Shaping Tomorrow's India | Nov 25 - Dec 4 | Mumbai

S.T.E.A.M. School
November 25 - December 4, 2016 | Mumbai
Deadline for Applications: November 8
9 Intensive Days, 36 Participants, 12 Rapid Prototyping Experts, 10 Mentors from India and France.

About S.T.E.A.M. School
S.T.E.A.M. School is an Indo-French partnership programme driven at shaping tomorrow's India. This programme offers 100% scholarships for the ideal candidates along with a certificate of completion. It is an initiative to encourage hands on education for social change.
S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics. These areas of education are the primary focus of this programme. We will use them to look at global challenges with local perspective. There will be project based learning in designing, prototyping and testing techniques. Participants will choose from existing Urban Challenges driven by UN's Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. This programme gives you a unique opportunity to indulge in creative learning through Design thinking, Rapid Prototyping, 3D Printing, Electronics / IoT and AR/VR.
We have designed the programme in such a way that if you wish to develop a product in the area of the given challenges, we will train you in the skills you need to build your prototype. This will enable you to solve real world problems through prototyping and learning. We will also provide you with support after the program if you wish to take your product development to the next level.

Project Themes
Health Care and Wellness: Prosthetics, Assistive Devices, Remote Healthcare and Diagnostics
Future of Media: Drones, AR/VR, Greening of Production & Filming Processes
Quality Education: Experiential Technologies, Gamification
Water Quality/Environment: Water Resources, Water Treatment
Smart City and Communities: Urban Mobility, Preventing Food Wastage, Air Pollution

Who Should Apply
Are you someone with the bent of mind for problem solving? Do you have the commitment to struggle with your problem till your Eureka moment? Do you have demonstrable work done in the development space to share with us? Are you able to learn and adapt to challenges? If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then this programme is for you. An ideal participant in this program would be either experienced or passionate about working in sectors related to the given challenges. It could also be someone who wants to work towards product development for social change. This programme will bring together people from various aspects of civil society. It will be an opportunity for you to collaborate with design and architecture graduates, social scientists and engineers among others.

STEAM School Application Form

Further Information

New Report | Dairy Sector in India: Opportunities in Key States and Products | by Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi and YES Bank

Dairy Sector in India: Opportunities in Key States and Products
by Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi and YES Bank, October 2016.

Message
Over the past 50 years, the diary sector in the Netherlands has seen incredible transformation. In the 1960s, the average dairy-producing farm had approximately 9 cows, which is quite similar to the current situation in many parts of India. The two decades thereafter saw a shift from mixed farming to specialized farming; which continues to this day. As a result of this farm intensification, the average Dutch dairy farm has approximately 70 animals today; a staggering increase of more than 630%!Factors such as mechanization and the high use of inputs such as fertilizers and feed have all played their role in this astounding transformation.
The dairy sector in the Netherlands is the story of self-organization, accepting challenges, adapting to the need of the market and a dramatic transformation in a single generation. The so-called 'Approach of the Netherlands' where the private sector, Government, and research institutes work together on innovative solutions.
Whilst the increase in productivity has been an important factor in the Dutch dairy industry, sustainably increasing production is of even greater importance. The mantra of the Sustainable Dairy Chain goes "If you can't measure it you can't manage it." The different stakeholders of the Sustainable Dairy Chain emphasize the following goals: the Dutch dairy chain targets a 20% reduction in greenhouses gases by 2020, the improvement in livestock health and welfare, preservation of grazing, and the protecting biodiversity and the environment. All are goals that the stakeholders strive to attain to ensure the Dairy Chain becomes more sustainable.
The Indian dairy sector is very diverse and at the same time, is at different stages of development in different parts of the country. India has some very well organized co-operatives, foreign and domestic companies. How they develop their supply chains and product lines varies from player to player. Then there are also the government organizations which have their own programs for small scale farmers. All have their different challenges.
This study is a joint effort of the Agriculture Department of the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Delhi and Yes Bank reflecting on the recent developments that have undergone in the sector of dairy focusing on states like Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Maharashtra.
I congratulate YES BANK for their dedicated efforts in bringing out this volume whose work shaped this piece. We have no doubt it will be useful to policy analysts, policymakers, the research & development community at large. This study will also help to achieve commercial success by collaborating on mutually identified development projects & will contribute to respective bilateral goals for both India and Netherlands.

Wouter Verhey | Agricultural Counsellor | Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi

Foreword
India is the world's largest dairy producer, with 156 Mn MT of annual milk production, contributing over 18 % of global production. Dairy is Indian agriculture's single largest sub sector in value terms, generating annual revenue of over USD 70 Bn. Demographic dividend, changing lifestyle patterns, rise in disposable incomes, structural food habit changes and improved health consciousness are key growth drivers fuelling development of the dairy industry in India.
Multiple opportunities exist in India, across the post-production dairy value chain, in areas of storage, procurement, processing and packaging technologies. These opportunities offer tremendous scope for technology suppliers, processors and service providers to tap into one of the world's largest dairy markets. While, at the backend, private and cooperative dairy processors are actively investing in procurement infrastructure for consistent availability of good quality milk, at the front, the industry is rapidly diversifying into high-margin, value-added dairy products such as cheese, Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk, ice cream and flavoured milk.
This YES BANK - Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands study 'Dairy Sector in India: Opportunities in Key States and Products' provides an in-depth overview of the Indian dairy market and captures key potential opportunities across the post-harvest dairy value chain, both in terms of geographical as well as product-based opportunities. Additionally, the study profiles the milk production scenario, value chain structure, processing infrastructure scenario as well as recent developments and opportunities in key States of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. On the product front, cheese and UHT milk have been profiled in detail across market opportunity, competitive landscaping, products variants, key trends & key product technology suppliers fronts.
I am confident that the study will be of immense value to the Dutch dairy industry in recognizing the vast potential of India's dairy market, thereby enabling strong partnership opportunities between India and the Netherlands in the sector.
Sincerely,

Rana Kapoor | Managing Director & CEO YES Bank | Chairman, YES Institute

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Overview of Dairy Industry in India
Dairy Industry Scenario in Selected States
Assessment of Selected Products
Cheese & Ultra High Temperature (UHT) Milk

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IIAS Shimla invites applications for the Award of Fellowships

IIAS Shimla | Award of Fellowships

The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) invites applications for the Award of Fellowships for advanced research in the following areas (ref. advertisement no. 05/2016):

(a) Social, Political and Economic Philosophy;
(b) Comparative Indian Literature (Including Ancient, Medieval, Modem Folk and Tribal);
(c) Comparative Studies In Philosophy and Religion;
(d) Comparative Studies in History (Including Historiography and Philosophy of History);
(e) Education, Culture, Arts including performing Arts and Crafts;
(f) Fundamental Concepts and Problems of Logic and Mathematics;
(g) Fundamental Concepts and Problems of Natural and Life Sciences;
(h) Studies In Environment;
(I) Indian Civilization in the context of Asian Neighbours; and
(j) Problems of Contemporary India in the context of National Integration and Nation-building.

For details please visit IIAS website: http://www.iias.org. The prescribed application form can be downloaded from this website of the Institute. Applications on the prescribed form may be sent to the Secretary, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla-171005. Applications can also be made online. Only applications in the prescribed application form would be considered by the Institute. Applications must reach the institute by 30th November 2016.

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New Book | Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All | Comparing Business Regulation for Domestic Firms in 190 Economies

Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All.
A World Bank Group Flagship Report, Comparing Business Regulation for Domestic Firms in 190 Economies.
by World Bank Group, New York, 2016. ISBN: 9781464809484.

Summary
Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All, a World Bank Group flagship publication, is the 14th in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 190 economies—from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe—and over time.
Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking.
Data in Doing Business 2017 are current as of June 1, 2016. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms of business regulation have worked, where and why.

Main Findings

• Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All finds that entrepreneurs in 137 economies saw improvements in their local regulatory framework last year. Between June 2015 and June 2016, the report, which measures 190 economies worldwide, documented 283 business reforms. Reforms reducing the complexity and cost of regulatory processes in the area of starting a business were the most common in 2015/16, as in the previous year. The next most common reforms were in the areas of paying taxes, getting credit and trading across borders.Read about business reforms.
• Brunei Darussalam, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Belarus, Indonesia, Serbia, Georgia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain were the most improved economies in 2015/16 in areas tracked by Doing Business. Together, these 10 top improvers implemented 48 regulatory reforms making it easier to do business.
• Economies in all regions are implementing reforms easing the process of doing business, but Europe and Central Asia continues to be the region with the highest share of economies implementing at least one reform—96% of economies in the region have implemented at least one business regulatory reform.
• Doing Business includes a gender dimension in four of the 11 topics sets. Starting a business, registering property and enforcing contracts present a gender dimension for the first time this year. Labor market regulation already captured gender disaggregated data in last year's report.
• This year's report expands the paying taxes topic set to cover postfiling processes—what happens after a firm pays taxes—such as tax refunds, tax audits and administrative tax appeals.
• This year's report also includes an annex with analysis on a pilot indicator on public procurement regulations.
• The report features six case studies in the areas of getting electricity, getting credit: legal rights, getting credit: credit information, protecting minority investors, paying taxes and trading across borders as well as two annexes in the areas of labor market regulation and selling to the government. The case studies and annexes either present new indicators or provide further insights from the data collected through methodology changes implemented in the past two years. See all case studies.

Table of Contents

Overview
About Doing Business
Reforming the Business Environment in 2015/16
Case studies

Getting Electricity: Factors affecting the reliability of electricity supply
Getting Credit: Legal Rights - Two approaches to developing an integrated secured transactions regime
Getting Credit: Credit Information - Casting a wide net to expand financial inclusion
Protecting Minority Investors: Achieving sound corporate governance
Paying Taxes: Assessing postfiling processes
Trading Across Borders: Technology gains in trade facilitation

Annex: Labor Market Regulation - What can we learn from Doing Business data?
Annex: Selling to the Government - Why public procurement matters

Top 10 Countries

1 New Zealand
2 Singapore
3 Denmark
4 Hong Kong SAR, China
5 Korea, Republic of
6 Norway
7 United Kingdom
8 United States
9 Sweden
10 Macedonia, FYR

BRICS Ranking

40 Russian Federation
74 South Africa
78 China
123 Brazil
130 India

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