The Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation Division, Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India renewed the Programme of Cooperation (PoC) in Science and Technology, on August 14th 2022. In terms of the PoC, funding can be made available for selected Joint S&T workshop proposals in bilateral mode involving scientist & technologists from India and Sri Lanka, in the following areas:
a.       Food Technology

b.      Plant base medicines

c.       Robotics & Automation

d.      Renewable Energy

e.       Waste Management

f.        Information and Communication Technology

g.      Sustainable Agriculture

h.      Aerospace Engineering

i.        Big data analysis

j.        Artificial intelligence

k.      Any other area of S&T with national relevance (with Justifications)

The Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation Division and DST (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementing Agencies”) hereby invite Indian and Sri Lankan scientists/researchers to submit proposals for Bilateral Workshops in any of the above areas in terms of the provisions herein set out.

Call has opened for British Academy Visiting Fellowship,

Visiting Fellowships illustrate the British Academy’s profound and on-going commitment to international engagement. The aim of this programme is to ensure that the UK remains an attractive, welcoming, and productive research environment for academics globally. Through this programme, the Academy aims to:

Enhance and build new links between scholars from around the globe and in the UK;

Foster opportunities and encourage the development of new and future partnerships for collaborative research into the humanities and social sciences

To enable academics from across the globe to undertake research and/or professional development with UK colleagues; And strengthen the UK’s research bases in the humanities and the social sciences.

Eligibility requirements:

Visiting Fellows must be of postdoctoral level or above, or have equivalent research experience at the time of application.

Candidates should be based outside of the UK at the time of application.

Applicants may be on permanent or fixed-term contracts. Fixed-term contracts must not end before the end date of the Visiting Fellowship.

Independent scholars are also welcome to apply.

The Jal Jeevan Mission is a pioneering initiative by the Government of India to ensure access to safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections in rural India by 2024, aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) on the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

A comprehensive study to measure changes in access to clean water, improvements in health outcomes due to better water quality, and socio-economic impacts such as increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs is imperative for reaching the goal of Viksit Bharat by the year 2047. Empirical research based on an extensive survey can assess the mission's effectiveness at the ground level, evaluating progress, identifying challenges, and highlighting successful strategies employed in different regions to minimize the drinking water crisis and its overall impact on rural India.

Surveying stakeholders, including beneficiaries, local authorities, implementing agencies, and others, will help identify infrastructure gaps, operational challenges, and barriers to achieving universal water access in rural India. Such evidence-based research is vital for refining strategies and policies to address these issues effectively, with a focus on optimizing the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission.

The outcome of the study can improve governance structures, resource allocation, and the integration of sustainable practices to ensure long-term success. The study should aim to generate new knowledge about rural water supply and management practices, including indigenous knowledge and traditional water management systems. This knowledge can be disseminated through academic publications, policy briefs, seminars, and workshops, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on water governance, sustainability, and rural development.