President's Message
 
Dr. John Kershaw
President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
 

The last two months were very busy for both offices as they prepared for the Member Council and the Annual General meetings. All three events were well attended and I appreciated the members’ interest in the business of our organization. In addition to the organization of these annual events there were many webinars and governmental engagements going on as well. From the Canadian side, progress on the MOU with the Government of Alberta has proceeded to the point of receiving a first draft for the Ministry of Education. This is a significant development for SICI. The Canada Office also engaged with the Government of Yukon and Canada’s newest university, Yukon University. On the India Office side, many special events and webinars were organized and delivered smoothly. The India Office also hosted a delegation from Saskatchewan and it was a pleasure to be able to join that session virtually to extend a welcome on behalf of SICI.

 

The past two years have been a period of change for SICI and the organization and offices staff have responded and adapted very quickly. As we navigate new funding envelopes with both the Governments of India and Canada, it is important that we demonstrate strong member engagement. Many virtual events have attracted a wide audience from all of our member institutions; however, we need to show SICI’s impact beyond our programmes. I encourage all members to try to acknowledge the importance of SICI as you develop one-on-one MOUs between member institutions and let the offices know about institutional and individual collaborative activities. Demonstrating a strong impact of SICI is vital. My term as President has come to an end. It was a hectic two years, but rewarding working with all of you and seeing the broad range of impacts SICI programmes have. I am confident that Prof. B. Hariharan, new President of SICI, and the continuing and new Executive Council members will continue to navigate SICI through these changing times.

 
Thank you!
 
 
 
What's On?
 

Shastri Mapping & Matching Interest Workshops (SMMIW)

Under the banner of Bi-national Agriculture Cluster 

 

As a part of Bi-national Agriculture Cluster initiative, SICI successfully completed its first round of five 5 workshops under six (6) thematic clusters over the last two months (April & May), namely Precision/Smart Farming, Crop Science: Crop Improvement, Crop Protection, Soil Health, and Water Technology, Post-harvest/Food Processing & Technology, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Well-being. Approximately 150 participants from 55 Indian and Canadian institutions and organizations participated in these workshops that allowed researchers, faculty and academicians from both the countries to share their research findings, explore joint collaborations and partnerships and create a framework of developments and trends on mutual themes of interest in the domain of agriculture.

Each workshop was led by co-chairs, each from India and Canada, who presided the discussions and presentations held during these workshops, followed by their reflections on the thematic areas and recommendations on the next course of action.

 

Workshop 1: Precision/Smart Farming

 

India Chair: Dr. Rabi N Sahoo, Principal Scientist, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Canada Chair: Dr. B. Balakrishnan Prithviraj, Coordinator, Bi-national Agri-Cluster, and Associate Vice President (Global Relations), Associate Professor, Plant Stress Physiology Research Chair, Dalhousie University

 
 
Workshop 1: Precision/Smart Farming
 

Workshop 2: Crop Science: Crop Improvement, Crop Protection, Soil Health,

and Water Technology

 

India Chair: Dr.  R. Uma Shankar, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Jammu

Canada Chair: Dr. Ravindra N. Chibbar, Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan

 
Workshop 2: Crop Science: Crop Improvement, Crop Protection, Soil Health,

and Water Technology

Workshop 3: Post-harvest/Food Processing & Technology

 

India Chair: Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, ICAR – Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET)

Canada Chair: Dr. Gale Bozzo, Associate Professor, Associate Chair, Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph
Workshop 3: Post-harvest/Food Processing & Technology
 

Workshop 4: Animal Husbandry

 

India Chair: Dr R. N. Srinivas Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar

Canada Chair: Dr. Pavneesh Madan, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Workshop 4: Animal Husbandry

Workshops 5 & 6.) Agriculture Economics, Marketing,

Entrepreneurship, and Well-being

 

India Chair: Prof. P. G. Chengappa, Ex-Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore

Canada Chair: Dr. Sven Anders, Professor, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta
Workshops 5 & 6: Agriculture Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Well-being
 
The Institute soon plans to conduct "part two" of the series to allow participants to dive deeper into their respective topics of relevance with focussed discussions and plan of action under each thematic cluster.
2-day International Interdisciplinary Conference on "Literature, Environment and Climate Change"
 
 
International Conference on “Literature, Environment, and Climate Change”
 

On April 7, 2022, the Department of English and Public Relations, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab in collaboration with Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala and Assam Don Bosco University organised a 2-day International Interdisciplinary Conference on "Literature, Environment and Climate Change". Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, was the Chief Guest for the inaugural session. Dr. Prachi Kaul, Director, SICI, was the Guest of Honour at the event. Prof (Dr.) Richard Pickard, Department of English, University of Victoria, Canada, delivered the keynote address on “Teaching Places: Pedagogies for Eco-criticism, Ecological Grief, and Rage”. The conference voiced eco-concerns of diverse regions of India through various technical sessions broadcasted during the day.

World Health Day 2022 Celebration
 
 
 
Panellists at SICI's virtual discussion on the occasion of World Health Day 2022
From left - Dr. Randeep Guleria, Dr. Michael Strong, Dr. Pierre Cossette,
Dr. Shanthi Johnson and Dr. Prachi Kaul

SICI organized a high-level virtual panel discussion to mark the occasion of World Health Day on April 7, 2022. The theme of this year's observance was "Our Planet, Our Health: Engaging India and Canada". Joining the discussion were Dr. Michael Strong, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Dr. Pierre Cossette, Rector, Université de Sherbrooke, Dr. Shanthi Johnson, Secretary - Treasurer, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, & Dean, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada, Dr. B. Hariharan, Vice-President/President Elect, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, & Head of the Department, Institute of English, University of Kerala, India, and Dr. Prachi Kaul. The panellists discussed and shared opportunities and challenges faced by the world population in the context of environment and planet earth’s health. All speakers agreed that the engagement of both government and society will be critical to any effective response to the ongoing climate crisis globally.
Seminar on “Natural History, Women's Agency and Conserving Bio-Diversity”
SICRG event in progress on April 30, 2022

Funded by Shastri Institutional Collaboration Grant (SICRG), IIT Madras and McGill University jointly organized a virtual seminar entitled “Natural History, Women's Agency and Conserving Bio-Diversity” on April 30, 2022. The seminar was organized as part of the Gwillim Project which is centred around the life of two English sisters Elizabeth Gwillim and Mary Symonds who left behind a rich treasure of letters and drawings, produced during their stay in Madras (now Chennai) from 1801 to 1808. The event was put together by Prof. John Lourdusamy, IIT Madras and Dr. Victoria Dickenson, lead SICRG awardee from McGill University.

 

Showcasing and Disseminating Knowledge

and Research (SDKR) series: Dr. Meenu Saraf


 
 
SDKR session in progress
(Top right corner): Dr. Meenu Saraf, Shastri Mobility Programme awardee

SICI virtually hosted Dr. Meenu Saraf, Director, University School of Sciences, Head, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Coordinator Clinical Research Programs, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University on May 11, 2022, under its SDKR series that features SICI fellows who share their academic and research journey. During the conversation with audience, Dr. Saraf shared how SICI's Shastri Mobility Programme opened doors for her to develop collaborative research projects in Molecular Genetics and Genomics with Canadian member institutions.

 

University of Ottawa Officials' Visit to India

(May 16 - 20, 2022)

 
Above, 2nd image (from left): Dr. Jaques Fremont, President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Prachi Kaul, Director, SICI, and Dr. Sanni Yaya, VP International & Francophonie,
University of Ottawa at SICI office in New Delhi

On May 16, 2022, Dr. Jaques Fremont, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa & Dr. Sanni Yaya, VP International, University of Ottawa, met Dr. Prachi Kaul, Director, SICI, to discuss wide range of opportunities in Higher Education & Research between the University of Ottawa, SICI and India. It was their first visit to India in the post-pandemic times.

 

Lecture by Dr. Jacques Fremont, President and Vice-Chancellor,

University of Ottawa at National Law University, Delhi, premises

The morning meeting was followed by a thought-provoking & an interactive lecture by President Fremont entitled ‘Who should have the last word in Canadian Constitution Adjudication’ which was organized on the premises of National Law University, Delhi in collaboration with SICI. The Lecture was moderated by Dr. Srikrishna Dev Rao, Vice-Chancellor, National Law University Delhi and attended by faculty members and researchers.
Roundtable Session held at the premises of National Law University, Delhi
 
SICI's Roundtable session wrapped the first day of President Fremont and Dr. Yaya's visit in Delhi on May 16, 2022. The session held at National Law University, Delhi saw participation from Higher Education institutions from India, touching all disciplines, right from STEM to Humanities & Social Sciences. The Roundtable allowed each institution the opportunity to find potential areas of collaboration with the University of Ottawa with an aim to realise win-win partnerships with each other.
(Extreme right): Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE,
interacting with Dr. Fremont and Dr. Yaya
 
While touring Delhi to meet various institutions of higher learning, President Fremont and Vice-President Yaya had the opportunity to catch up with Dr. Anil Sahsrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education, at SICI's office in the morning of May 18, 2022. Dr. Sahasrabudhe shared holistic view of the different possibilities of partnering with Indian higher education institutions to create Joint Degree, Twinning and Dual Degree programmes and the eligibility criteria to do so, including the opportunity to open foreign campus on Indian land, as per the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020.
 
University of Ottawa officials interacting with SICI's Indian member institutions in Mumbai
SICI's Roundtable session Part - 2 with Indian member institutions was held at the premises of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, on May 19, 2022. The Roundtable was presided by Dr. Surinder Jaswal, Deputy Director, TISS. On the similar lines of Delhi Roundtable session, the participating institutions shared and discussed potential areas of mutual interest with the University of Ottawa. The session was joined virtually by Dr. Prachi Kaul who moderated the session along with Dr. Jaswal.
In Other News...

 

Call for University of Waterloo - IIT Delhi Jointly Funded Collaborative Research Project Proposals

The University of Waterloo (UW) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) are collaborating on a funding opportunity for new interdisciplinary research initiatives through a joint call for proposals. The goal of these 2-year grants is to support and catalyse collaborative research. Proposals for collaborative activities might include joint research projects, or any other form of research partnerships between UW and IITD. The call is open to regular faculty members of IITD and tenured and tenure-track faculty at Waterloo, with a June 17, 2022, deadline to apply.

 

Apply here!

Dr. Sheila Embleton, member representative of SICI, and Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, York University, Canada, recently became the recipient of CAUT's Bernice Schrank Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the enforcement of academic staff workplace rights through grievances and arbitrations. Dr. Embleton is also the Chief Steward of York University Faculty Association.

 

Congratulations, Dr. Embleton!

 
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