Dr. Banani Basistha receives Prof. Panch Ramalingam Young Scientist Award

Dr. Banani Basistha, an IoE Postdoctoral Research Fellow specializing in Indian Psychology under the mentorship of Prof. JSR Prasad at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), was recently honored with the esteemed InSPA – Prof. Panch Ramalingam Young Scientist Award for 2024 presented by Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Government of India during the 14^th InSPA International Conference at the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), India on 24-10-2024.

This annual award, established by Prof. Panch Ramalingam, to promote school psychology research in India, included a cash prize of Rs.10,000/- and a certificate. Prof. Panch Ramalingam, Director I/c UGC MMTTC Pondicherry University, is a prominent person in psychology and education in India, especially known for his contributions to school psychology. He is the current President of the Indian School Psychology Association (InSPA), which he co-founded in 2009 to promote school psychology within India. InSPA supports psychologists and educators by providing training and professional development, as well as collaborating with international bodies like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Asia Pacific School Psychology Association (APSPA) to improve educational and psychological outcomes for children in India.

Dr. Basistha expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Award Committee for recognizing her contributions to school psychology. She was awarded for her work in developing the Ṛtu Sandhi Wellbeing Scale, a psychological tool designed to assess the effects of Ṛtu Sandhi (seasonal transitions) on school children’s well-being. This scale evaluates changes in physical health, mental health, sleep patterns, and food preferences during the Ṛtu Sandhi period, offering insights into how these transitions impact overall well-being in school students. She is currently co-authoring a Handbook of Indian Psychology with   Prof. JSR Prasad at the University of Hyderabad, focusing on developing psychological insights derived from ancient Indian scriptures.