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Admissions

Cultural Studies and
Social Change 

School of Social and
Behavioural Sciences

ViSION

To support interdisciplinary research and critical thinking on psychology, culture, religion, and social structures, deepening our understanding of traditions and society while promoting well-being, social justice, and cultural sustainability. 

MISSION

Thematic Areas

Psychology of Cultural Landscapes and Sacred Spaces

Social Sciences and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)

Religion, Spirituality, and Well-being

Gender, Culture, and Social Justice

Historical Analysis of Tradition and Social Change

TEAM Members

Mukil M. V.
TAG Lead
Research Assistant V
Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
Research Interests: Indian Temples and cultural landscapes, Indology, Environmental psychology: Human-nature connectedness, Behavioral Designs.
mukilmv@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Bhavani R. Rao
Dean
School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Director of AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
Research Interests: Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality; Learning Technologies; Vocational
bhavani@am.amrita.edu

⁠Dr. Parvathy V.
Head of Department, Department of Social Sciences
Research Interests: Mental Health and Well-Being, Psycho-Social Approaches and Interventions in Health Settings, Application of Strengths Perspective, Resilience & Alcohol Misuse, Spirituality in Social Work and Self-Development, Social Work Methods, Social Work Research
parvathy.v@ammachilabs.org

Dr. Vivek Subramoniam
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences
Research Interests: EDUCATION—Digital Education, Technology-Enhanced Learning,
Educational Technology, Digital Learning Technology, Integration Spirituality and Social Work, Indianization in Social Work Practice and Education, Indigenous Innovation, Technology and Development (IKS), Sustainable development management, IKS, and knowledge management
viveks@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Harikrishnan U.
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Psychiatric social work, Psychosocial Care and support in disaster management, school social work, adolescent health and mental health, and social work practice with families.
hariku@am.amrita.edu

Rondine Anushree Twist
PhD Fellow, School for Sustainable Futures, Amritapuri
Research Interests:
Human-Nature Connection, Socio-Ecological Systems, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation, Nature-Based Solutions, Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity, Community Participation, Culture, Spirituality & Sustainability, Politics, Law & Philosophy, Hydro-Social Cycle
rondine.anushree@ammachilabs.org

Dr. Thushara M. G.
Assistant Professor (Sr. Grd.), School of Computing, Amritapuri.
Research Interest: Abstract Interpretation, Text Processing, Code Generation, Program Translation, Static Analysis, Sustainability of Ancient Indian Art Forms and Rituals

Funded Projects

Current Collaborators

University of Arizona

Jatayu Earth Center

⁠​Aranmula Heritage Trust

Publications 2022 – 2025

  • Nayana, N., Valsala, P., & Nair, V. (2025, January 16–19). Bridging the gap: Exploring gender differences in eSanjeevani adoption in Kerala [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Lakshmi, G., Valsala, P., & Unnikrishnan, R. (2025, January 16–19). Understanding vulnerabilities in women’s health: Towards gender-inclusive digital innovations in health [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Kapoor, S. L., Valsala, P., & Sen, A. J. (2025, January 16–19). Enhancing the scope of social work interventions for women substance users through technology and digital innovations [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Athira, R., Harikrishnan, U., & Thomas, J. (2025, January 16–19). Women’s mental health in the digital age: Scientific mapping and emerging trends [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Arjun, K. K., Harikrishnan, U., & Thomas, J. (2025, January 16–19). Women’s health and telemedicine: A bibliometric analysis [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • John, A. E., Harikrishnan, U., Rao, B. R., & Perletti, G. (2025, January 16–19). Scientific mapping and trends of multi-stakeholders to address gender-based violence [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Nair, N. H., Harikrishnan, U., Rao, B. R., & Perletti, G. (2025, January 16–19). Intersection of technology and gender-based violence: A review and bibliometric analysis [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Vijayakumar, A., Surendran, H., Mbye, F., Harikrishnan, U., Rao, B. R., & Simmons, W. (2025, January 16–19). Role of multi-stakeholders to address gender-based violence in India: A scoping review [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Ustenko, V., Ryf, B. E., Subramonian, V., & Rao, B. R. (2024, December 13–15). Building resilience in the face of natural disasters: The impact of AmritaSREE self-help groups on psychosocial well-being in Kerala, India [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Tsunami Risk Reduction and Resilience, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Amritha, N., Marwaha, D., Bhanu, V. R., Singh, V., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024, September). Empowering rural women in India: SHG formation and training for social change using humanitarian technology. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-7). IEEE. https://doi.org/0.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732061
  • Marwaha, D., Bhanu, V. R., Amritha, N., Kuttan, A., Harikumar, G., & Sheshadri, S. (2024, September). Evaluation of factors influencing the implementation of a government vocational training program for women in Ernakulam, Kerala, India: A principal implementers’ perspective. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732850
  • Padmavilochanan, A., Anitha, P., Suresh, A. K., Refoulouma, S., Saravanakumaran, S., Sheshadri, S., & Rao, B. R. (2024, September). Tech for all: Innovating inclusive adoption measurement. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732464
  • Kochukrishna Kurup, V. S., Rangasami, P., & Pillai, S. S. (2024, April). Enhancing agricultural development in rural Indian communities: The contribution of NGOs through corporate social responsibility initiatives. In 2024 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech) (pp. 273-280). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/SusTech60925.2024.10553561
  • Padmavilochanan, A., Natarajan, A., Shekhar, L., Sheshadri, S., Parameswari, A., & Bhavani R. R. (2023, October). ICT significance for community engagement during COVID in rural India: An application suite. In 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 203-210). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC56179.2023.10354703
  • Pillai N. M., Mohan A., Devika M., Gutjahr G., & Nedungadi P. (2022). Cost-effectiveness of using tablets for digital literacy training in tribal areas of Rajasthan. In: S. Tiwari, M. C. Trivedi, M. L. Kolhe, K. Mishra & B. K. Singh (Eds.), Advances in Data and Information Sciences. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Vol. 318 (pp. 363-370). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5689-7_32
  • Freire, I. T., Løvschal, M., Bollen, J., Carugati, F., Ndzenyuiy, M. N., Page, S. E., Rao, B. R., & Tylén, K. (2025). How do we collaborate?. In P. F. M. J. Verschure (Ed.), The nature and dynamics of collaboration (pp. 317-333). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15533.003.0024 
  • McLain, M. L., Suresh, V., Sankaranarayanan, K., & Rao, B. R. (2025). Structure of collaboration in women’s self-help groups. In P. F. M. J. Verschure (Ed.), The nature and dynamics of collaboration (pp. 113-123). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15533.003.0012 
  • Vivek S., & Suresh, V. (2024). Social group work practice in tribal communities. In A. Kaushik, R. R. Patil, B. M. Dash, & S. Prasad (Eds.), Areas of social work practice. An essential text for students of social work (pp. 271- 282). Bloomsbury. 
  • Twist, R., von Lieres, J. S., Radhakrishnan, R., & Rao, B. R. (in press). Snake-worshipping traditions of Kerala through the lens of human-nature connection. Ethics & the Environment. 
  • Suresh, V., Sreejith, S. S., Vivek, S., & Santha, S. D. (2024). Institutional bricolage and collective action: A case study of a farmers’ producer organisation in Tamil Nadu, South India. International Journal of Rural Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/09730052241301483  
  • Suresh, V., Vivek, S., & Sreejith, S. S. (2024). Assessing the long-term viability of farmers’ collectives in South India. Frontiers in Sociology, 9, 1415725. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1415725 
  • Vivek, S., & Rangasami, P. (2024). Impact of COVID-19 on the primary level teaching-learning process in rural India. Frontiers in Education 9, 1343754. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1343754 
  • Valsala, P., & Menon, P. (2023). Psychospiritual basis of altruism: A review. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 63(3), 344-363. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022167819830517
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