RONO HILLS, Nov 10: A five-day capacity building workshop on ‘Research Methodology and Publication in Social Sciences’ commenced at the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) premises here today.
Jointly organized by the Department of Anthropology, RGU and the Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, the inaugural session was graced by Prof Jayadeba Sahoo, Vice Chancellor (i/c) RGU, as chief guest, and Dr N T Rikam, Registrar RGU, as guest of honour.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof Subho Roy, Professor-in-Charge, Biological Anthropology Unit, ISI (Kolkata).
He highlighted the significance of integrating statistics with field-based disciplines such as anthropology for meaningful and contextually rich research.
Prof Roy observed that India’s vast socio-cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity provides a unique context for studying human physical variation. He pointed out that physical traits are shaped by ancestry, environment, nutrition, and lifestyle, emphasizing that research must consider population origin to ensure scientific accuracy.
He concluded by advocating for a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, noting that collaboration between statistics and anthropology enriches both methodology and interpretation, thereby contributing to research that is scientifically sound and nationally relevant.
Prof Sahoo, in his address, encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity to refine their research skills and contribute meaningfully to the field of social sciences and humanity.
Dr Rikam, in his speech, appreciated the initiative of the department in fostering academic excellence through such programmes and encouraged the participants to be interactive during the workshop.
Earlier, Dr Dhritiman Sarma, HoD Anthropology, highlighted the importance of methodological training and publication ethics in social science research.
Dr Md Asghar, coordinator of the workshop, provided an overview of the programme, emphasizing its aim to enhance the research competence of young scholars and faculty members.
The five-day workshop will feature a series of lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on activities led by eminent resource persons from reputed institutions, focusing on research design, data analysis, writing for publication, and emerging trends in social science research.