July 24, 2024 — Dr. Bhavani Rao, Dr. Sangeeth Kumar, and Ms. Claire Moleon from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham recently visited Washington College to discuss potential collaborations with their faculty. The visit included presentations by the Amrita team at Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society and their Geographical Information Systems (GIS) program.

Established in 1999, the Center for Environment and Society promotes interdisciplinary learning, research, and exemplary stewardship of natural and cultural resources. Its primary objective is to integrate ecological and social values, fostering a comprehensive approach to sustainability.

Washington College’s GIS program offers students professional training and hands-on experiences through internships, mirroring Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Live-in-Labs program. The exchange of ideas and methodologies during the visit highlighted the potential for enriching educational experiences at both institutions.

The Amrita team expressed their appreciation for the insightful and enjoyable visit, which facilitated connections with the following distinguished faculty members of Washington College:

• Dr. Valerie Imbruce, CES Director
• Dr. Beth Choate, CES Deputy Director
• Dr. Tarek Rashed, GIP Director
• Dr. Chelsea Peters, Director of Watershed Innovation
• Dr. Dave Kramer, Director of River and Field Campus
• Dan Small, Associate Director of Natural Land Stewardship
• Jane Anne Williams, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Education
• Dr. Kiho Kim, Provost and Dean of the College

This visit marks a promising step towards future collaborations, blending expertise and resources to advance educational and research endeavors at both institutions.