India, Global Grants, Asia-Pacific Penn Global hosts second annual Penn India Research Symposium

On Friday, November 2, Perry World House played host to Penn Global’s second annual Penn India Research Symposium. The interdisciplinary gathering brought together scholars from across the University to present on their research in or relating to India, a country which has come to the fore as a major area of focus for Penn faculty after decades of fruitful engagement.

As in its first year, the Symposium was divided into three thematic panels – “Education and Social Science Research,” “Health and Health Policy,” and “Business, Technology, and Society” – to allow for the broadest possible spectrum of research topics. During each of these “blitzes,” faculty members briefly summarized their India-related research, whose topics ran the gamut from kidney surgery to corporate social responsibility, digital banking to drainage systems. Each session concluded with a moderator-led discussion, and the event was crowned by a colorful Diwali-themed reception to mark the beginning of the Indian festival of lights.

This year’s Penn India Research Symposium took place on the heels of the 2018 Wharton India Economic Forum and drew a full house of students, faculty, and staff from across Penn and other Philadelphia-area universities. The goal of Penn Global’s research symposia is to provide a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration on research topics with global implications, and to showcase the breadth of global engagement being undertaken across Penn’s schools and centers.

"The University has an extensive history of strong faculty engagement in India," said Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Zeke Emanuel. "In hosting these India-focused research symposia, Penn Global makes it abundantly clear that we recognize the invaluable contribution by Penn faculty to this longstanding tradition."

Video recordings of each of this year’s research blitzes are available here.

Among the Symposium’s 16 presenters were five recipients of Penn Global’s India Research and Engagement Fund (IREF), which was launched at the first annual Penn India Research Symposium in October 2017. IREF is a competitive matching fund designed to stimulate and support lasting, meaningful faculty engagement with India. During its first year, approximately $800,000 in IREF funds were distributed across 15 projects, and as much as $2 million will be awarded over the next two years. Please see here for more information on IREF.