Inaugural Conference

Innovative Engagement for Sustainable Development: the Edinburgh-India Story

Keynote Speaker: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam

About the event

Conceived as an interdisciplinary gathering of academics and researchers from medicine/veterinary medicine, science and engineering and humanities and social sciences from the University of Edinburgh and their counterparts in India, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to showcase and celebrate the University’s longstanding work in India.

The conference aimed to promote scientific excellence by enabling Edinburgh-India partners to come together and share our work, assess where we are and help shape our future strategy.

The conference had a variety of sessions: from plenary to abstract-driven presentations, symposium, to panel discussion which provided an exceptional opportunity for academic engagements and networking.

Under the over-arching theme of the Edinburgh - India story, the conference focused on three broad strands—medicine and veterinary medicine; science and engineering and humanities and social sciences and drew on collaborations in research, teaching and knowledge exchange activities with colleagues from India.

The conference attracted a number of high profile speakers from India including:

• Prof Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calcutta
• Mr Dilip Khatau, Chairman, the Corbett Foundation
• Dr B Ashok, IAS, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
• William Dalrymple, Writer and Historian
• Prof Pradipta Banerji, Director – Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
• Rob Lynes, Director, India, British Council
• Professor R K Shevgaonkar, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• Professor R K Shevgaonkar, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Conference Organisers

• Dr George Palattiyil
• Dr Dina Sidhva

Conference Organising Committee

• Frank Gribben, Registrar, College of Humanities & Social Sciences (Chair of the Committee)
• Prof Stephen Hillier, Vice Principal-International
• Prof Roger Jeffery, Dean-International, India & Director, Edinburgh India Institute
• Prof Jeremy Bradshaw, Dean-International, College ofMedicine & Veterinary Medicine
• Prof Robin Wallace, Dean-International, College of Science & Engineering
• Dr Dina Sidhva, Honorary Fellow, Edinburgh India Institute
• Isabell Majewsky, Acting Deputy Director, International Office
• Prof Natalie Waran & Prof Anna Meredith, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
• Dr George Palattiyil, Deputy Director, Edinburgh India Institute.