My Updates
Fostering Global Scientific Networks: NSF AccelNet 2024 Workshop & Annual Meeting
I was privileged to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) AccelNet Early Career Researcher Workshop and Annual Meeting in Alexandria, VA. A transformative week exploring international scientific collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to complex global challenges. The highlight was connecting with brilliant minds across disciplines and discovering how our diverse perspectives can tackle complex global challenges together. From data science to policy, from oceanography to social sciences – every conversation opened new possibilities for collaboration. The Annual Meeting further expanded these themes, bringing together diverse projects working to accelerate international scientific collaboration. From discussions about equitable knowledge co-production to strategies for global inclusion, every session reinforced how interconnected our scientific challenges truly are.
Won the Best Presenter Award at the Cultural Evolution Society Conference (CES) 2024
I am honored to have received the Best Global South and Indigenous Presenter award at the Cultural Evolution Society (CES) 2024 conference for my research talk on "The Functions of Ritualization in Acquiring Mastery: Cultural Transmission of Indian Miniature Paintings." The CES 2024 conference was organized at Durham University (England), which brought together diverse scholars to advance the evolutionary science of culture, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across fields like anthropology, psychology, and sociology. This achievement was made possible through the support of my colleagues at UT Austin: Dr. Cristine Legare, Dr. Alejandro Erut, Dr. Alex Etz, and Zachary Taylor. I am excited about the recognition this brings to our work on cultural transmission and its potential for future research.
Featured in a Documentary to Showcase our Research on Indian Miniature Art
I am featured in a new documentary about Indian miniature painting that explores why some ancient art forms remain in the modern imagination. The focus is on the perspectives of a community of painters in Jaipur, India, their creative processes, and how their work is inspired by spirituality and the desire to preserve the heritage of their community. Produced in partnership with Superfly Productions, the documentary offers an immersive visual experience into the heart of Rajasthan (India). Conversations with expert painters and their apprentices reveal the intricate process of miniature painting mastery. This documentary is part of a broader research initiative, "The Process of Spiritualization through Artistic Activity and Training,” funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.
https://templetonreligiontrust.org/explore/the-larger-significance-of-miniature-art/
Published paper on Integrating Human-centered Design and Mixed Method research for public Health Innovations
I am happy to share our new publication, 'Integrating Human-Centered Design and Social Science Research to Improve Service-Delivery and Empower Community Health Workers: Lessons from Project RISE.' Our paper presents insights from integrating human-centered design (HCD) and social science research in a project on 'Harnessing Ritual to Improve Service-Delivery and Empower Health Workers' (RISE). Focusing on Bihar, India, project RISE combined a complex systems approach with mixed-method research and HCD. We aimed to devise empirically informed solutions to augment community health work and improve maternal and child health behaviors. Our paper systematically explores the project, detailing processes, actionable insights, and the challenges encountered, from ideation to prototyping.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405872624000042
Launching AccelNet: Global Science Network of Networks
I am excited to share my experience at the ACCELNET kickoff event in San Diego! A truly informative and energizing gathering focused on launching the implementation phase of our project, aimed at leveraging global science networks to foster cultures of learning. It was enlightening to collaborate on a plan that will shape the network-of-networks, clarify its value for our organizations, and outline our pilot project to support those affected by chronic stress from global crises. Heartfelt thanks to Cristine Legare and Adrian Chiba for their leadership, and to all experts and organizations worldwide for their contributions.
https://www.centerforappliedcogsci.com/projects/harnessing-global-science-networks
Completion of Project on Engaging Men: Recognition for Family Planning and Nutrition Initiative
We're honored to receive a prestigious award for our project "Engaging Men for Improved Family Planning and Nutrition Outcomes," supported by Dalberg, PCI India, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We were recognized as runner-up in the Design for Social Impact category at the Core77 Design Awards 2023. After two years of dedicated work in rural India, we've developed two innovative programs with the potential to transform health and gender behaviors. We're now exploring opportunities to scale these interventions and explore digital delivery pathways. Interested in collaborating? Visit our program page.
https://www.engagemen.in/
Bridging Cultures Through Art: Insights from the ASU Grantee Meeting
I attended the Art Seeking Understanding (ASU) grantee meeting at the University of Notre Dame, supported by the Templeton Religion Trust. Our project, "The Process of Spiritualization Through Artistic Activity and Training," explores the cognitive and aesthetic mechanisms of spiritual transmission in traditional Indian art forms. The event highlighted art's power to bridge cultural divides and promote empathy and understanding. Excited for the impactful work ahead. For more info, visit our webpage.
The importance of rituals in behavior change
Thanks, India Development Review (IDR), for publishing our article on recognizing the importance of rituals and their role in developing strategies for behavior change in health and beyond. I would encourage everyone interested in related topics to read this article (link below) and reach out to us for further discussion at the Center for Applied Cognitive Science.
https://idronline.org/article/health/the-importance-of-rituals-in-behaviour-change/
Summer 2022 at Scope Impact: Innovating Health Solutions
During the summer of 2022, I worked as a Design Researcher at Scope Impact in Helsinki, Finland. I contributed to the Happy Women Happy Families (HWHF) project, which utilized a Group Antenatal Care (GANC) approach to enhance maternal health in Bangladesh. My role involved supporting the synthesis and analysis processes to refine the existing HWHF solution design. Additionally, I developed a comparative outline of various GANC iterations in Uganda, Kenya, Guatemala, and Bangladesh.
https://scopeimpact.fi/university-of-texas-at-austin-interns
Gold Medal for Master's in Rural Management
I am honored to share that I have received a gold medal for overall achievement in my Master's in Rural Management for the year 2013-2015. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication throughout my studies. Thank you to my professors, peers, and family for their support. This accomplishment encourages me to continue working hard in rural development and management.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/memories-more-priceless-than-gold-medals/cid/1425534
Participated in the International Program on HR4DEV 2014 held in Ghent, Belgium
I am thrilled to share that I received a scholarship from the University of Antwerp and XISS to participate in the 2014 edition of Human Rights for Development (HR4DEV). This program explores the potential and limits of human rights in development and cooperation. The training includes a two-week general segment on human rights and development, followed by a two-week thematic segment on children's rights. HR4DEV is designed for future leaders in practice, policy, and academia from the global South and North.