In a proud moment for KIMS, Prof. and HOD Dr. Sonali Kar and Postgraduate student, current batch of 2022, Dr. Angana Ray were invited for oral presentations at the prestigious 2nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) Conference, held at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, from October 20–22, 2025.
The conference brought together 414 participants from across the globe, including representatives from academia, industry, non-profits, and government organisations. The conference focused on “Transformative Change for a Just and Sustainable Future”, emphasizing collaborative approaches toward environmental stewardship, social equity, and sustainable development. Participants engaged in discussions and workshops addressing innovative solutions to pressing sustainability challenges.
Dr Kar presented the thesis work of her student Dr. Nirmalya Mohapatra, titled “Solid Waste Management in Urban and Rural Households in Odisha, Eastern India: A Comprehensive Pragmatic Study to Assess State Policy Reach to Households to Manage Waste and Save the Environment”.
Dr. Angana Ray presented her thesis work on “Research in Urban Slums in Cities in India Recommends Sustainable Restriction in Noise Pollution and Good Hygiene as Key Strategies for Ear Health Among Adolescents and Adults “. Her work was also guided by Dr. Sonali Kar.
The presentations received an enthusiastic response from the attendees and sparked meaningful discussions on sustainability in community health. They also attended the Workshop on “Teaching Sustainable Development: Integrating Theory and Practice”, which explored innovative pedagogical strategies to embed sustainability principles into health education and community practice.
A collaboration between KIMS and Harvard University is being fostered to formulate a module on Sustainability Teaching Concepts in a multidisciplinary approach. Their participation highlighted KIMS’s continued commitment to promoting sustainability-driven research and global academic collaboration.
The team extended sincere gratitude to Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS, and Dr. R. C. Das, Dean and Principal, KIMS, as well as the Faculty and staff of the Department of Community Medicine for their constant encouragement and support in enabling international academic engagement and research dissemination.
