Amity Institute of Social Science (AISS), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Campus organised an ‘International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS) 2024’ on the theme, “Navigating Social Landscapes: Exploring Contemporary Issues in the Social Sciences” from 5th March to 6th March 2024. The Conference aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, theories, and experiential findings among scholars and researchers in the social sciences, encourage a multidisciplinary approach to studying social issues and inculcate human values amongst citizens for societal development.
Addressing the students during the Inaugural Session, Guest of Honor, Dr. Harshvardhan Singh (Former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization, stated, “Social Science is a huge canvas with lots of colors, but the most important thing is to choose the most pertinent issues which impact the society and work on them. In the government's Viksit Bharat@2047 mission, social issues have been given a lot of importance and are being addressed strongly. This conference is a great platform for the students to enhance their learning and knowledge and therefore they must listen to the experts, share their views and give suggestions for providing remedies to social problems.”
Sharing his views on the occasion, Sri. Bhuwan Ribhu, Eminent Lawyer and Social Activist, asserted, “Through this conference, let us collectively find solutions to the social problems, which are rampant in our society. At present, there are two major challenges, firstly, how to get original innovative ideas and secondly, how to use those ideas in the interest of society. It is not enough to acquire knowledge through research, but knowledge should also be used to create social consciousness and formulate legal policies. Also, information must be converted into knowledge and used in policy-making for creating the right impact on society. Research on key issues in social sciences is essential for growth and development. In addition, if the information acquired through digital platforms or social media is not being used for the benefit of the society, then it is a waste of time.”
Delivering the Keynote Address, Dr Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research, averred, “The topic of the Conference is very relevant during current times. Social Science helps us to understand the changes which are taking place in society. Today social media is playing an important role in all aspects of life, although it has both negative and positive impact on society. Misuse of technology is spreading misinformation and people are not able to understand how to differentiate between right and wrong. Also, gender equality is gaining momentum and men and women both are understanding their roles and responsibilities, without putting the burden on women alone. Amongst families, there is almost negligible communication between the family members today, which leads to many problems such as loneliness. Students should not limit themselves just to understanding social science but also deliberate upon how they can bring about changes in the society and find solutions to societal problems.”
Welcoming the guests, Prof. (Dr) Nirupama Prakash, Director, Amity Institute of Social Sciences, said, “The International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS 2024) is a crucial platform designed to bring together a diverse group of scholars, researchers, practitioners and policymakers. This collaborative forum aims to explore the complex and ever-changing areas of social phenomena in-depth that shape the interconnected world. Given the constantly shifting global landscape, there is an increasing recognition of the critical need to comprehend and effectively address multifaceted challenges embedded within the Social Sciences.”
During the two-day Conference, renowned Scholars from IITs, IIMs and Central Universities from various States in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Austria will present 91 Research Papers. In addition, Panel Discussions on topics such as “Child Marriage’ in collaboration with Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation”, “Empowering Women and Children in the Digital Age”, “Women Entrepreneurs”, “Global Social Development and Youth”, “Social Work in Dynamic Era: Paving the Way for Viksit Bharat” and “Indian Knowledge System: Revisiting Bharat in Amritkaal”, will also be held.