RV University part of Arctic University of Norway led global environmental humanities project consortium on the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic, the eastern Himalayas and the Amazon studies
RV University, Bengaluru, has secured a grant of nearly 3 million Norwegian Kroner equivalent to Rs. 2.5 Crore for the global environmental humanities project led by the Arctic University of Norway in association with the University of Campinas, Brazil, RV University, Bengaluru and the Highland Institute, Kohima.
The project, titled EKOLOGOS, is thematically founded on four broad areas – pedagogy, research, documentation of ecological practice and dissemination of knowledge. Central to the project is creative and imaginative processes that are inherent in intercultural exchanges of wisdom and experiences between the member institutions situated in different parts of the globe.
It will bring together scholars, students and researchers working in three of the most valuable, yet fragile ecosystems on our planet – the Arctic, the eastern Himalayas and the Amazon. The aim of the project is to create a multi-national, multi-institutional M.A. Programme for Global Environmental Humanities by providing learning opportunities by a mutual student exchange program to and from Norway, student participation in international research projects at all partnering institutions, four winter and summer schools, knowledge dissemination through audio-visual teaching materials, environmental artwork, publications such as papers and books and a major concluding conference.
Awarded by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, this four-year project will be executed by the Institute for Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology at the Arctic University, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SoLAS), RV University along with other partners.
According to Dr. Piyush Roy, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, RV University ,RV University will be collaborating with The Kohima Institute, towards very specific outcomes like hosting a winter/ summer school at Bangalore, facilitating student and research exchange and contributing towards the creation of the film, publications and allied documentation of the project for wider dissemination.
Commenting on the project, Vice Chancellor, RVU, Professor Y.S.R. Murthy said, “The proposed four-year project will take RVU’s national and international collaborations to the next level. It will lead to concrete outcomes like a Master’s programme in Environmental Humanities. It will also open up many interesting learning opportunities for our students and faculty members.”
