27 May - 2 June 2023

A weekly roundup of everything that transpires in the Kreaverse

A Round-up of the Kreaverse

June has arrived, heralding a new season of possibilities. While students and faculty members enjoy their well-deserved summer break, behind the scenes, Krea University is abuzz with the final round of Admissions. Amidst the anticipation of the incoming cohort, the Outreach team conducted Ask Krea, a virtual live help desk dedicated to guiding and supporting aspiring students last week. Addressing their concerns and inquiries, the initiative helped them navigate the Kreaverse better. Furthermore, in response to the overwhelming demand from aspiring Kreators across the nation, we have graciously extended the application deadlines for UG Programmes, PhD Programme at SIAS, and MBA Programme at IFMR GSB.

What’s keeping us on our feet though is Convocation 2023 that will unfold in exactly a month on 1 July. With preparations in full swing, be sure to reserve this date in your calendars, as we anticipate a momentous gathering.

Krea, this Week (KTW) is 12 editions down. Honestly, it has thrived on the power of collaboration. Together, let's continue to nurture the creative energies and forge ahead. If you’d like to share what you’ve been upto in terms of professional achievements and would like for us to share it with a larger universe, please don’t hesitate to write to us at all.commsteam@krea.edu.in

Clubs in Centrestage

This week we shine the spotlight on Kala, the Visual Arts Club at SIAS

Kala (Visual Arts Society) offers a platform for Krea students to explore their creativity through workshops, sessions, and art installations. The club delves into various art styles and mediums, showcasing their work based on specific themes. Their wall painting on campus, created by multiple members, adds vibrancy to the surroundings. Through their Instagram (@kala_krea), they aim to inspire artistic expression and keep the community informed. Join them to unlock the potential of art, learn, experiment, and cultivate more creative experiences.

On Krea’s social media platforms, in the coming week, we will give you a glimpse of the significant work done by Kala over the recent months.

📢 Announcements 📢

Counting Down to Convocation

The most anticipated event of the year is just around the corner! Krea University's Convocation 2023 is to be held at Sri City campus on 1 July. Sri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal, Diplomat and Author, will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest of Convocation 2023. Honorary doctorates will be conferred upon distinguished guests, Sujata Rao, Former Union Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, for her contribution to health services nationally and internationally; and Suchitra Ella, Managing Director, Bharath Biotech, for her contribution to the world of medical science and research. We look forward to seeing you all.

Penning Perspectives

Sayantan Datta, Faculty Teaching Associate, Centre for Writing and Pedagogy (Krea - CWP) co-authored an academic essay titled Science, State and Procreative Conundrums: A Transgender Perspective with Prof Pushpesh Kumar, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad that has been published in the Law School Policy Review. The essay examines the medicolegal complexities surrounding a surgeon's attempt to transplant a uterus into a transgender woman's body. It explores the blurred boundaries between "experimental" and "therapeutic" medical procedures, questioning the implications when medical aspirations collide with legislative agendas. The essay reflects on the experiences of transgender individuals, who already occupy sociological identities in liminal spaces of visibility and desirability. Read here.

A Talk on India’s Fauna

Dr John Mathew, Associate Professor of History of Science at SIAS spoke at the Colonial Natures Workshop held on 23–24 May 2023 at the Department of History & Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, UK. Dr Mathew was part of the panel discussion Nature's Intermediaries in India, chaired by Dr Charu Singh, HPS, University of Cambridge, along with the co-panelists Rohan Deb Roy, History, Reading University and Marine Bellégo, LARCA, Université Paris Cité. In his presentation titled The Translocate and the Writing of India's Fauna, Dr Mathew focused on the making of taxonomic zoology in India under the British and, to some extent, the French.

A Recognition for Impact

The John P. and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation has awarded the Rhapsody Foundation helmed by Anil Srinivasan, Associate Professor of Practice in Literature & the Arts, SIAS the Global Impact Grant for 2023. This grant includes a generous sum of $50,000, intended to fuel the Foundation's initiatives over the course of two transformative years.

Of Butterflies and Bigger Discoveries

Dr Vinod Kumar Saranathan, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, SIAS published a paper titled Multi-scale Dissection of Wing Transparency in the Clearwing Butterfly Phanus vitreus in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface. The paper was co-authored with Dr Cédric Finet, Dr Qifeng Ruan, Dr Yi Yang Bei, Dr John You En Chan, Dr Joel K W Yang and Dr Antónia Monteiro. In this work, the authors show how the Widespread Ghost-Skipper (Phanus vitreus) butterfly found in Central and South America has uniquely evolved to retain modified scales on the wing that are oriented vertically. These specialised scales have a wider aspect ratio and are tuned to reflect a cyan blue colour as well as increase the water repellency compared to an otherwise unadorned wing surface.

Deadlines Extended Spread the Word

PhD Programme at SIAS

An exciting research opportunity awaits! The PhD programme application deadline has been extended to 10 June 2023. Share the news with those seeking a stimulating academic journey.

Apply here.

UG Programmes

Owing to multiple requests, from aspiring Kreators across India, the deadline for applications to the UG programmes -- BA (Hons) and BSc (Hons) at the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences (SIAS) has been extended to 3 June 2023. Apply here.
The deadline for applications to the 5 Year Integrated MBA+BBA Programme at IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB) has been extended to 3 June 2023. Apply here.

MBA

Know anyone looking to kickstart an extraordinary adventure into the land of management learning? Admissions for MBA Programme 2023 closes at 5 pm on 3 June 2023. CMAT cutoff All-India Rank 7500. Apply here.

Conversations Around Climate Change

Globally, decision-makers understand the importance of education for climate action. But when it comes to moving from knowledge to action, they have been slow to shift. In her virtual presentation on 18 April 2023, Dr Christina Kwauk, Research Director, Unbounded Associates described her ongoing work with decision-makers and stakeholders, to make this shift more quickly. Dr Kwauk introduced two guiding frameworks that she and her colleagues have developed for education systems, that speak to the systemic challenges of the climate crisis, including gender inequality, and addressed a range of priorities for climate action, including the achievement of climate justice. This talk was part of the Krea Lecture Series in Environmental Studies, and was facilitated by Dr Chirag Dhara, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, SIAS. Watch the full video here

Crusading a Change

In his hybrid talk titled Resource Conflicts Over Sources of Life on 22 December 2022, Dr Felix Padel explored the impact of extractivism on earth, water, fire, and air. He highlighted how the capitalist mindset undermines the essential elements of life. Land disputes, chemical agriculture, mineral extraction, and fossil fuel exploitation degrade the earth. Water sources are over-extracted, polluted by industrial effluents, and harmed by dams and mining. Fire fuels industrialisation and warfare, contributing to pollution and conflict. The polluted air we breathe and space littered with debris further illustrate the damaging consequences. This talk challenged the focus on climate change, advocating for a shift towards addressing extractivism. Facilitated by Prof Bishnu Mohapatra, Director of Moturi Satyanarayana Centre for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Politics, SIAS, this talk was part of the Krea Politics & Environmental Studies series.

Watch the full video here

Decoding Disciplines - The Krea Way

This latest video series deep dives into the unique academic approach of different disciplines at Krea University

In this episode of Decoding Disciplines - The Krea Way, Dr Kumaravel S, Assistant Professor, Operations Management, IFMR GSB discusses the philosophy and pedagogy of the Business Studies stream at Krea University. As a Liberal Education University, Krea emphasises Interwoven Learning and critical thinking. The interdisciplinary approach to teaching Business Studies at Krea University enables students to understand the complexities of the business world and develop a holistic perspective towards management. It also provides students with a strong foundation in core business disciplines while fostering creativity and innovation.

Tune in! Watch the video here