Letter from the Director
Greetings from the Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai!
In a world where connectivity, conflict, and climate change require creative and collaborative knowledge interventions, we approach 2019 with a renewed sense of commitment to global learning
The past year was about expanding the Center’s programmatic areas and consolidating the impact and outreach of projects underway.
Programs on environmental sustainability, especially our concerted effort to raise awareness about the conservation, access, and sustainable management of water resources reached significant academic, policy, and public spaces.
The Mumbai Center cemented its relationship with the Mailman School of Public Health to bring exciting new research opportunities to faculty at Columbia University as well as at Indian institutions of public health through the Yusuf Hamied Fellowships.
In addition to research and public engagement, our Urban Works Innovation Challenge with the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science paved the way for an exciting three-year program providing mentorship and support to Columbia student teams and Indian startup companies for designing solutions for the future workplaces of urban India.
Explorations addressing air quality, nutrition, arts and media, urban infrastructure, and higher education paved the way for framing focused, inter-disciplinary, and long-term initiatives.
Student information sessions and send-offs came to be centered in and facilitated by the Center as interest in studying at Columbia University grew in the region. As always, our alumni community remained a valued partner.
We thank the members of our Faculty Steering Committee and Advisory Board for their engagement and contribution. Thanks also to all our partners, program participants, and subscribers!
As this year marks a decade since the Columbia Global Centers network was first started in Amman and Beijing, the Mumbai Center is looking ahead to celebrating new partnerships and cross-Center programs.
Dr. Ravina Aggarwal,
Director, Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai