The Department of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) hosted a series of guest lectures in January 2025, drawing attention to interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global challenges. These lectures, attended by faculty and students, explored various critical topics, from human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka to the complexities of global mental health and antimicrobial resistance.
On January 22, 2025, Dr. Sören Köpke, a Research Associate at the University of Kassel, Germany, presented a compelling lecture titled ‘Human–elephant conflict (HEC) in Sri Lanka’s dry zone: Insights from research 2018-2023’. Dr. Köpke discussed the intensifying HEC in Sri Lanka, where the endangered Sri Lankan elephant faces severe habitat loss and increasing hostility from human communities. He emphasised the need for interdisciplinary solutions, integrating anthropology, political science, agronomy, and conservation biology. His research included qualitative fieldwork, and large-scale surveys, uncovering the multifaceted nature of the conflict. Dr. Köpke proposed solutions such as improved compensation schemes, community-based conservation, better land-use planning, and sustainable ecological measures to mitigate the conflict. His session culminated in a rich discussion, with further research collaboration possibilities highlighted by Dr. Nanda Kishore Kannuri.
On January 23, 2025, Dr. Sumeet Jain, Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, delivered a lecture on Ethnographic Approaches in Global Mental Health Research: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnership, and Impact. Dr Jain, who co-directs Edinburgh Mental Health, discussed the significance of ethnographic methods in community mental health research, particularly in low-resource settings like Northern India. His research, which integrates social work and medical anthropology, focused on the challenges faced by mental health workers in rural areas. Dr. Jain shared his experiences working with community mental health workers (CHWs) in Uttarakhand and highlighted the need for culturally relevant recovery models. His session also addressed the importance of building partnerships based on trust and the challenges of measuring the impact of mental health interventions. Dr Jain’s lecture sparked a lively discussion on the complexities of mental health research and the practicalities of using ethnographic methods among vulnerable communities.
Professor Heidi E. Fjeld, a Medical Anthropology expert from the University of Oslo, delivered a thought-provoking talk on The Anthropology of Pharmaceuticals on January 28, 2025. Professor Fjeld explored the complex interaction between global health systems and local pharmaceutical practices, focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across the Indian Ocean. She introduced the concept of the “social lives of medicines,” shedding light on how pharmaceuticals are shaped by cultural, social, and economic dynamics. Her ethnographic research in China, India, and Tanzania revealed the global implications of local pharmaceutical practices, particularly in Hyderabad, where antibiotics are produced and exported. Professor Fjeld’s presentation underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding pharmaceuticals not only as medical tools but also as cultural and social objects influencing global health systems.
For all these lectures, Prof M Romesh Singh gave introductory remarks, emphasising the importance of collaborations, and Dr Alok Kumar Pandey introduced the speakers. By the end of each session, Dr Nanda Kishore Kannuri summarised the discussions, highlighting the key insights and delivering a vote of thanks to the speakers.
The series of lectures exemplified the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in tackling global issues. We hope that these events will help in expanding the academic horizons of the students and foster opportunities for future research partnerships with international Universities. We are glad that the Department of Anthropology remains committed to facilitating such dynamic exchanges, contributing to the evolving discourses in anthropology and related fields.
Contributed by Akhilesh Bonthu (24SAPH05), Giridhar Utla (24SAPH06) and Tahir Yousuf Najar (24SAPH01), Doctoral students, Department of Anthropology, University of Hyderabad.