Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Nov: The School of Liberal Arts (SLA), Uttaranchal University, concluded its two-day International Conference on “Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries: Emerging Perspectives in Humanities and Social Sciences, Mass Media and Technology” at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium. Held in hybrid mode on 2–3 November, it brought together academicians, researchers, media professionals and students from across the country and abroad. The conference received 195 research papers, of which 152 were presented offline and 43 online, across seven rooms for offline presentations and three links for online presentations over the two days.
The inaugural session on Day 1 was addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Kartikey, Director, SLA, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Bahuguna and Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Dharam Buddhi, who urged students to build lasting academic networks. Artificial intelligence, belief and public narratives ran through the opening day, with talks by Prof. (Dr.) Raghav Mehra, a panel featuring Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Joshi, Dr. Pawan Sharma and Shivani Tewari, and a symposium by Prof. (Dr.) Vibha Sharma.
Day 2 featured paper presentations across six tracks and an online session with international speakers Cameron Hogg of South Africa and Datin Dr. Cynthia Yolanda Doss of Malaysia. A roundtable on literature, psychology and politics brought together Prof. (Dr.) D. R. Purohit, Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Joshi, Prof. (Dr.) Mosam Sinha and Dr. Jwalant Bhavsar. Neeraj Rajput, Defence Editor, ABP Network, spoke on the evolution and ethics of modern journalism.
At the valedictory session, B.N. Tiwari, President, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, was Guest of Honour. SLA students presented a cultural performance, and Outstanding Research Paper Awards were presented in four categories:
- Undergraduate: Ramandeep Kaur, Uttaranchal University, for “Habituated to Consent: How the Mathura Judgment Converted Reputation into Proof”.
- Postgraduate: Anway Pattanaik, Uttaranchal University, for “Beyond the Human Narrative: Plant Agency, Social Power and Counter-Narrative in The God of Small Things and Sea of Poppies”.
- Research Scholar: Kanishka Mahendru, Dr. Anita Kaul and Dr. Medha Narayan Kulshrestha, Doon Global School University, Dehradun, for “Role of Attention Span: A Systematic Review among Patients with Intellectual Disability”.
- Academician: Ajay Gideon, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, for “The Cumulative and Self-Reinforcing Effect of Social Environment on Criminal Behaviour: An Integrative Theoretical Framework”.
The conference showed how artificial intelligence, media ethics and the humanities are increasingly intertwined, and gave students first-hand exposure to academic presentation and professional networking.
President Jitendra Joshi and Vice President Ankita Joshi shared their blessings with the participants and the organisers of this conference.
