Bringing Academics, NGOs, Practitioners & Society Together ​Every Month on One Platform to Address Our Common ​Challenges and Creating the Collective Future!

The conference aims to bring diverse perspectives of ​academics, scholars, and practitioners to address the ​current global challenges by using an interdisciplinary ​approach. It seeks to explore interdisciplinary solutions ​that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries to ​resolve complexity of wide ranging issues including ​everyday concerns of education, health and general ​well-being to global climate change, economic ​recession or political polarisation. Participants will ​engage in relevant discussions and present their ​interdisciplinary research for its real-world ​implications. The virtual conference aims to bring ​together individuals from various disciplines, sectors, ​and countries to connect, converse, and work together ​on a variety of topics. The event will also provide ample ​opportunities for networking, allowing attendees to ​build connections and partnerships that could lead to ​future projects and initiatives. Ultimately, the goal is to ​create a platform where knowledge and ideas can be ​exchanged freely, empowering individuals to ​contribute meaningfully address various pressing ​issues that our world is facing today.

The benefits of the conference include:

• Thought-provoking discussions with experts and ​practitioners from various disciplines, domains, ​organisations, and countries.
• Understanding the current global challenges ​through the lens of interdisciplinary research.
  
• Addressing theoretical, methodological and ​implementation challenges of interdisciplinary ​research applications.
  
• Opportunities for collaboration, networking and ​capacity building; and
  
• Research outreach, policy engagement and ​inclusivity of interdisciplinary research.
  

Open Streams &

Call for Submissions

This session on “Health, Diseases, Lifestyle, and Well-​Being” aims to address various critical and ​interconnected issues of health, well-being and risks ​associated with environmental and social changes. ​The experts from different disciplines and sectors will ​not only discuss their research findings and ​implications but will also shed lights on the obstacles ​in implementing interdisciplinary research applications ​to improve health outcomes and promote well-being.

Focus points:

• Challenges in integrating medical and non-medical ​research in theory and practices
• Access, equity, and effectiveness of prevention ​and cure by using different health modalities.
• Case Studies and interdisciplinary reviews ​exploring existing approaches and applications of ​health measures and social well-being.
  
• Global perspectives on addressing novel diseases, ​health and well-being by using interdisciplinary ​research.
• Policy interventions and recommendations for ​interdisciplinary research on public health, ​diseases and social well-being.
  

The session on “Risks, Disasters, Climate Change & ​Sustainable Development" will facilitate the dialogue ​and discussions on the pressing need to address ​intensifying risks from various environmental and social ​hazards. It will also promote collaboration among ​experts, researchers, and stakeholders across various ​fields and industries to work together on ​interdisciplinary research aimed at creating a secure ​and sustainable future.

Focus points:

• Evolution and advancements in interdisciplinary ​research methods for assessing, managing and ​addressing risks for complex and compound ​hazards
• Cast studies and reviews of interdisciplinary ​research and applications in risk assessment, ​disaster management, climate change and ​sustainability
• Exploring the interplay of changing vulnerability, ​capacity and resilience in diverse spatiotemporal ​contexts across disciplines and sectors
  
• Global perspectives on disaster risks, climate ​change impacts and adaptations through the lens ​of interdisciplinary research
• Policy interventions and recommendations for ​interdisciplinary research applications on reducing ​risks.
  

This session on "AI, Disinformation, Research & the ​Future" will explore the different opportunities and ​challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) for ​different sections of the society. It will address the ​dual role of AI as a powerful tool for advancing ​research and a vector for the spread of ​disinformation. While there are significant advances in ​the information technology and computer science, ​interdisciplinary research in this field is still at a ​nascent stage.

Focus points:

• The interface of Interdisciplinary research ​potential, practicality and implications for AI, and ​misinformation
  
• AI, Ethics and Responsive Use of Information in the ​rapidly changing socio-economic and political ​realities.
  
• Case Studies and Interdisciplinary Research ​Reviews on AI and information related risks.
  
• Global perspectives on AI, risks, development at ​present and the future by using interdisciplinary ​approach
  
• Policy interventions and interdisciplinary research ​recommendations on AI and disinformation
  

The conference will start the topic that matter most in ​everyday life and research, which is "Education, ​Learning, Experiences & Transforming Realities." The ​session will delve into multifaceted role of education ​on shaping today's societies, expectations, and ​environment. It will not only explore the role of ​interdisciplinary research in fulfilling evolving learning ​needs of the society but also in bringing innovations ​and creating new knowledge for social transformation ​and sustainability.

Focus points:

• Challenges and strategies for tackling the fast-​changing world and education through ​interdisciplinary research.
• Existing and evolving methods, techniques and ​pedagogies for interdisciplinary research
  
• Discussion on diversity, inclusion and innovation in ​interdisciplinary research applications.
  
• Global perspectives on the use of interdisciplinary ​research and its challenges in educational ​practices and policies
• Exploring case studies and interdisciplinary ​research reviews on education and learning ​experiences.
  

Dr Shaheen Motala-Timol holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry and is a ​quality assurance practitioner with more than 15 years working in ​senior roles in external quality assurance in higher education in ​Mauritius. She was heading the Regulatory Affairs and Accreditation ​Division of the Higher Education Commission Mauritius prior to ​joining Middlesex University Mauritius in March 2024 as the Head of ​Academic and Quality Enhancement. Her current research focuses ​on the challenges and opportunities of cross border higher ​education.

Dr Motala-Timol is an alumna of the Global Young Academy, where ​she was a member of the Executive Committee in 2017. She is ​presently the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the African ​Chapter of the International Network for Governmental Science ​Advice (INGSA-Africa), whose aim is to strengthen the science ​policy interface in Africa.

Marcelle Bernard is a renowned expert in transforming individuals ​and teams into high-performing and successful leaders through the ​mastery of interpersonal ‘soft’ skills. Her work emphasizes the crucial ​role of addressing unconscious biases in stakeholder engagement ​and decision-making, leading to more inclusive and effective ​implementation outcomes. With a global footprint, Marcelle has ​delivered programs to over 20,000 graduates in Australia, New ​Zealand, Japan, India, and Bangkok, and has positively impacted ​over 500,000 youth graduates in Australia and New Zealand. She is ​the dynamic author of "Stand Up, Speak Up," where she combines ​fun with a wealth of knowledge in confidence, effective ​communication, and persuasive public speaking.

Marcelle's decades of experience in human resource management ​and business operations include growing a second business to 160 ​staff and over 400 clients by mastering cognitive biases, ​psychological sciences, high interpersonal intelligence, cultural ​intelligence, positive intelligence, emotional responsibility, ​consensus-based decision-making, collaborative communication, ​Neurolinguistic Programming, adult and youth education and ​training, dynamic governance, and inclusive leadership.

Dr Aadya Prasad is an Assistant Professor of English at the GD ​Goenka University. Her work spans all verticals of communication, ​with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ​communication. Dr Prasad emphasises the transformative power of ​communication to drive positive change, engage stakeholders, and ​support sustainable development. She guides and inspires students ​through interactive teaching methods, encouraging critical thinking ​and active participation. Her commitment to transforming education ​through innovative approaches and research aims to bridge theory ​and practice, contributing to the evolving educational landscape ​with a focus on sustainability and interdisciplinary insights. Dr. ​Prasad holds a PhD in Human-Animal Studies, which uses an ​interdisciplinary approach, combining literary theory, ethics, ​environmental studies, and sociology to explore complex social and ​ecological issues. Dr Prasad’s expertise in postmodernism provides a ​unique lens for analysing and interpreting communication and ​cultural expressions.

Rajendra Deshpande has completed a PhD in Gandhian Thought ​and Peace Studies, Social Sciences at the Central University of ​Gujarat. He is a visiting faculty member in various institutes in ​Pune and Aurangabad for management and marketing courses. ​He developed a Model For Social Value Development for the first ​time. He has published several papers and participated in various ​national and international conferences. Harvard Square has also ​nominated him for Leaders Excellence. He is closely associated ​with national and international Gandhian social organisations ​such as Secretary Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj. New Delhi, ​Member Advisory Council, Harijan sevak Sangh, established by ​Mahatma Gandhi, New Delhi.