Global Approaches in Nutrition, Inclusive Education and Textile Science

Conference Report

National Conference on “Global Approaches in Nutrition, Inclusive Education and Textile Science”

The Horizons of Home Science as a discipline has had a phenomenal growth in past four decades. Keeping the same trend ongoing, Department of home Science, The IIS University has organized a two day National Conference from 2-3 Feburary on “Global Approaches in Nutrition, Inclusive Education and Textile Science”. This conference was organized with an aim to revisit this philosophy for further expansion and making Home Science more interdisciplinary in nature.

The scope of the conference has been kept broad based with the intention that the young research scholars, PG and UG students can get exposed to the contemporary topics of research and innovation. The conference received an overwhelming response from all quarters. 220 delegates registered from all over India. Out of 220 delegates, 120 candidates were from The IIS University and 91 students from Rajasthan and 9 students from outside Rajasthan.

Day-1

Inaugural Session

The conference commenced at 10:00 am on 2^nd feburary with the inaugural session No endeavour is complete without invoking the blessings of the divine. The inaugural session began with “saraswati vandana” seeking the blessings of almighty followed by lighting up the lamp by all the dignitaries on the dais.

It was followed by the welcome address of the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, The IIS University Dr. Ashok Gupta. He extended the warm welcome to all  the resource persons, delegates, and  participants. While welcoming the resource persons, delegates and students participants, Dr. Gupta thanked the Key note speaker, Dr. Jagmeet Madan, for extending support in making this conference see the light of the day. He was hopeful that the deliberations during the two days would enable students, educators and researchers to strengthen Home science education in India and motivate students to pursue Home science as a career.

This was followed by presentation of an overview of the Home science Department of the IIS University by Prof Pradeep Bhatnagar, Coference Counsellor Dean, Faculty of science.

He acquainted the audience with the aims and objectives of the conference.  It was followed  by the release of  abstract booklet.

Prof. Jagmeet Madan  delivered the keynote address on the conference theme. She emphasized that global approaches in relation to the specializations of Home Science in present times are Interdisciplinary involving Integration; Global Local; Inclusiveness etc hence the field of Home Science encompasses a Holistic Approach.

The inaugural session ended with a formal vote of thanks proposed by conference convener Dr.  Ila Joshi ,  Head Department of Home Science and Conference Convenor.

The inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions  spreaded over 2 days.

Technical Session I

The first technical session was on “Nutrition Challenges and Opportunities : A global concern”. This session was chaired by Dr Mukta Agarwal Associate Professor Department of Home Science University of Rajasthan.

 In this session the first Invited Lecture was delivered By Ms Rekha Sharma she is retired chief dietitian AIIMS New Delhi, she is  on the advisory board of nutrition experts for many magazines and websites and country representative and director in International confederation of Dietetic associations. She delivered a lecture on “Obesity and its Related Disorders: Nutritional Management” and emphasized that obesity, hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease are like a rising inferno in India, especially in urban areas. On the other side we have under-nutrition, especially in children.

Next presentation was of Dr Shweta Khandelwal Associate Professor Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi and her topic was Public Health and Nutrition Challenges in India: Prices Paid, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward ,through her presentations she tried to highlight that nutrition cadre in India needs urgent attention and this calls for a unified and urgent action in multidisciplinary framework to overcome major challenges.

The next talk was delivered by Prof Sheel Sharma Head Department of Food Science and Nutrition Banasthali University and his topic was Nutrition of Masses with child as the Rallying Point with focus on the children who bear the major burden of malnutrition in terms of hunger, ill nourishment and disease.

Technical Session II

The second technical session was chaired by Dr. Ruby Jain. The session was on the theme of “Role of Textile Apparel Industry in Global Scenerio”. The invited speakers of this session were Prof. Deepti Gupta, Mr Somesh Singh and Ms Anupama Bose.

 Prof. Deepti Gupta discussed about high value added, functional and technical textiles. Her topic was “Innovations in Textile Finishing” where she discussed the leading developments in the field of innovative chemical finishes and added that consumer today is asking for newer effects which are durable.

Mr Somesh Singh is professionally a fashion designer and the Co-Founder Craft Village. His talk was on “Crafting Strategy: Indigenous Lessons to Increase Competitiveness, Innovation and Sustainability for Apparel & Textile Industry”. He concluded that no matter how much we emulate western world or globalization for enhance methods; the ones that would work would be from our roots only.

 Ms Amupama Bose is a textile designer personally involved in mixing of colours, tying sequences and techniques, recreating designs. In her talk entitled “Emerging issues in designing, production and Consumption” discussed the latest trends and innovations in the area of fashion.

Day 2

The second day of the conference begins with oral presentations. Abstracts were received from about 106 young students, research scholars and teachers.  The presentations were divided into two categories review and research papers. These presentations were interspersed in the second day schedule of the conference. In all 83 presentation were their in posters.  In posters, 43 posters were of  review and 40 posters  were research based. Due to the availability of limited slots 23 teachers and  students were able to present their research work orally.

The second day of the conference commenced with Oral Presentations of Clothing and Textiles. The Session was chaired by Prof Radha Kashyap.

The judges for the session was Mr. Somesh Singh and Dr. Kanika Verma. There were total five presentation from Textiles.

The parallel sessions of food and nutrition was going on. The evaluators for poster presentations were Professor P. N. Kalla and Ms. Neha Tiwari. There were 83 posters from all the three themes.

Technical Session 3

The third technical session was on Global Perspective on Inclusive Education.  It was chaired by Prof. Meenakshi Mathur, Head, Jai Narayan Vyas University Jodhpur.

The first Invited talks was delivered by Dr Asha Singh she started her career as researcher using the ethnographic approach in different rural and urban settings looking at socialization of children. Her topic was “Inclusion and Exclusion in Teaching Research and Practice”, she laid emphasis on the exponential development that has left to uniformities in social geographies with big malls, hotels, chain of schools and other constructions. 

The next talk was of Dr Deepak Kalra presently she is the Director of Umang, Jaipur. Her talk was on “Bringing Together Theory and Practice in Inclusive Classroom Through Teacher Training: Need of Today”. She suggested that the need is to adjust to student’s need and not vice versa in making education inclusive.

The next talk was delivered Dr Reema Lamba presently she is Associate professor in The Department of Human Development and Childhood Studies, Aditi Mahavidhyalaya, University of Delhi. Her talk was on “The Right Mix on Sustainable Equity and Inclusion”. She coded that numerous measures taken globally and in the Indian Context at policy and program level. However, despite the intent, good inclusionary practices continued to elued all.

The session was followed by Oral Presentations from foods and Nutrition and Human Development evaluated by our esteemed judges Dr Kanika Varma and Dr Asha Singh.

The conference ended with valedictory session. The session was presided over by

Dean ,faculty of sciences, Professor Pradeep Bhatnagar, Professor Ila Joshi ,

convener of the Conference and the organizing secretary Dr. Swati Vyas Ramani and

Dr. Nalini Totuka. Conference report was presented by Dr. Swati Vyas Ramani Head,

Department of Home Science, The IIS University Organizing Secretary of the conference.

To encourage scientific research among students and teachers, The IIS University awarded 3 Best Oral and 3 appretiation awards  were given. In poster, 3 Best Poster Presentations in each category I.e. Review and Research was given. The presentations were evaluated by Hon’ble judges Prof. P. N Kalla, Ms. Neha Tiwari, Dr. Asha Singh, Dr. Kanika Verma and Mr. Somesh Gupta. We thank them for their help and support.

The oral and Poster Presentation awards were distributed.

Associate Prof. Nimali Singh, University of Rajasthan, Dr. Ritu Mehra, Bhawani Niketan College, Jaipur and Ms. Neha Tiwari, Audiologist and Speech Therapist, Jammu,The IIS University, Jaipur, shared their experience of attending the conference. The final vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Nalini Totuka, the organizing secretary of the conference.

Overall the conference provided an excellent academic forum to the researchers, scientists and industry personnel to understand the emerging trends in Nutrition, Inclusive Education and Textile Science.

Acknowledgements

The Department of Home Science, IIS University would like to thank the IIS University for providing necessary support for organization of the Conference.  The financial support from sponsors is acknowledged with thanks.