The network of mindfulness, leadership, and performing arts
Mindfulness, leadership, and performing arts have deep interconnections that, if approached theoretically, can give productive outcomes to implement in workplaces and potential employees. The School of Entrepreneurship and Management Studies is delighted to inform you that the paper titled ‘Exploring mindfulness and leadership development: Lessons learned using grounded theory through the study of the performing arts’ by Dr Vimal Babu, Associate Professor, got published in the journal FIIB Business Review published by SAGE publication.
Abstract of the research
The research looks at mindfulness mechanisms and leadership characteristics as they are expressed in performing art forms. This qualitative study examines major categories to create a theoretical framework for mindful leadership development using performing arts. The present study employs the research paradigm of interpretivism to investigate respondents’ experiences and unique phenomena. The Grounded theory (GT) methodology helps explore grounded data and the development of theories. The abstract core category ‘Immense Concentration and Self-Control’ captures the abstract and inclusive meaning as understood by the sample respondents. The qualitative coding analysis aided in the investigation of the data-driven abstract phenomena. According to the findings of this study, all performing artists require a higher level of attention and self-control to demonstrate fascinating performances like Koodiyattam. A higher level of attention and self-control can be ensured based on increased mindfulness, identified leadership attributes, motivation components, values and beliefs, and personality dispositions of the performing artists. In-depth theoretical reflections on the relationships between the relevant categories are presented. The relationships between the five major categories of mindfulness processes, leadership abilities, motivation components, values and beliefs, and personality dispositions are very significant.
Explanation of the research
In simple terms, the present research explores the dynamics of mindfulness, leadership, and other potential variables enabling mindful leadership through performing arts, helping the practicing managers learn the innovative approaches to inculcate mindful leadership in employees in the workplace. To attain the research purpose, researchers studied the Koodiyattam performing arts as an instrument of mindfulness and leadership based on in-depth interviews of Koodiyattam performing artists. Since the present work explores deeper meanings and experiences to unearth unique and insightful phenomena, the Grounded Theory was appropriately employed as a methodology.
Practical implementation of the research
Managers and executives can derive valuable insights based on the present study. They would be able to understand the interconnections of mindfulness, leadership, and performing arts. It would offer them a better grounding to argue and introduce arts-based initiatives at their workplaces to enhance mindful leadership amongst potential employees aiming for well-being and career development in the organization. Several organizations have been experimenting with arts and its impact on business. However, the studies are in the nascent stage. Hence, more like-minded researchers need to join hands for diverse, global, and intercultural studies, focusing on different variables, including arts. The findings of the present research exhibit firm conviction in enlightening the industry practitioners to consider performing arts based mindful leadership training to enhance mindfulness and leadership attributes of the employees, in turn, making them productive and engaged workforce in the long run.
For this research, Dr Vimal babu has collaborated with Dr Amresh Kumar, IIM, Bodh Gaya, India, and Vipin Kumar, PMP, BT India, Gurgaon, India. His future research plans are to work in strategic leadership, negotiation, and conflict management using innovative qualitative research methods. Entrepreneurship education and circular entrepreneurship are also an area of much interest.
- Published in Departmental News, News, Research News
Inspiring the world with quality research facilities
SRM AP is known for its resources and facilities for pioneering research with the support of global leaders and SME’s while sticking to compliance and international regulations. Obtaining research excellence in every field of study has been a mission of the university. Recently, 50 MSc students from the Department of Chemistry, KBN College, Vijayawada, visited our university to explore the analytical and research facilities available here.
The research areas handled by the Department of Chemistry of SRM AP include the disciplines of chemical sciences, ranging from organic, inorganic, and physical, to theoretical or computational chemistry. The department’s highly disciplinary and collaborative environment is indeed inspiring, and it continues to grab attention. The strong interactions of the university with other premier institutions across India and around the world refine the quality of analytical and research facilities available here. The students from KBN college eagerly interacted with the faculty members and research scholars. Dr Mahesh Kumar Ravva and Dr Rajapandiyan, Faculty members, coordinated the visit.
- Published in Chemistry Events, Chemistry-news, News
In conversation with Prof B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad
SRM University-AP organised an interactive session with Prof B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, on May 7, 2022, to enhance the research collaborations and capabilities of the institution. Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof V S Rao; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof D Narayana Rao, all the faculty members, and research scholars took part in the conference.
The meeting deliberated on the need to develop platforms for effective research collaborations across multiple disciplines to maintain successful research careers. It accentuated on the necessity of bringing together inter-disciplinary resources, culture, talent, and scientific knowledge to enhance the depth and breadth of research capabilities. Building intensive research networks and making relevant contributions towards the inclusive development of the society were the major focus points of the discussion.
Prof V S Rao welcomed the gathering and introduced the guest of the day, Prof B S Murty. He reminisced over the long association with Prof Murty, the much renowned Indian metallurgist who has been recognised with the highest science award in the country.
Prof B S Murty put forward the need for bringing multidisciplinarity into the engineering course framework. According to him, the cross-pollination of ideas across the disciplines of technology, medicine, and environmental management is the ideal way to encourage inclusive development in society. He mentioned a few such pioneering programmes such as M.Tech in Medical Device Innovation and E-Waste Management, B.Tech in Computational Engineering and Microelectronics introduced in IIT Hyderabad. He concluded the session by emphasising the vitality of accelerating research across the healthcare sector as well as the need for orienting research in tune with the industrial demands.
Prof D Narayana Rao gave a brief overview of the research culture nurtured in the university. He presented the list of research publications, patent publications and various other accomplishments of the university’s faculty and students. He also gave a brief introduction to the various centres of excellence established at the university. By giving an outlay of the initiatives such as research collaborations with AIIMS Mangalagiri, SVMC Tirupati, and multiple other programmes like the University Distinguished Lecture Series, he shed light on the steps taken by the institution to promote research and development activities across the region. Prof Narayana Rao solicited collaboration with IIT Hyderabad, particularly in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), additive manufacturing of bio-implants, and battery electrodes for Li-ion batteries.
- Published in News, Research News
One-stop solution to green urea synthesis
Prof Ranjit Thapa and his PhD scholar, Mr Samadhan Kapse from the Department of Physics have reported their euphoric achievement of discovering an economically viable electrocatalyst for effective green urea synthesis. The paper “Selective Electrocatalytic Co-reduction of N2 and CO2 on Copper Phthalocyanine for Green Urea Production” has been published in the highly prestigious Nature indexed journal, ‘Advanced Functional Materials’, having an Impact Factor of 18.81. It was published in collaboration with Jit Mukherjee, and Uttam Kumar Ghorai, from the Department of Industrial Chemistry & Applied Chemistry, Swami Vivekananda Research Centre.
With global annual production of 100 million tons, urea is one of the important nitrogen sources for the fertilizer industry. Industrial urea is synthesized by the following two consecutive steps. First, the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen (N2 + H2 → NH3) by the Haber-Bosch process at high temperature and pressure (350–550°C, 150–350 bar); followed by the reaction of NH3 and CO2 [NH3 + CO2 → CO(NH2)2] under mild reaction conditions (170–200°C and 200–250 bar). The sequential reactions are carried out for several cycles to increase the conversion efficiency. For the first step, fixation of N2 is an energy as well as a capital intensive process due to difficulty in cleaving the N≡N bond. Extensive research works have been reported on electrochemical N2 fixation to NH3 in water medium under ambient conditions. In this electrochemical method, isolation of NH3 gas with high purity from electrolyte solution is troublesome. In the second step, CO2 fixation on the substrate and its separation is one of the major challenging tasks for the further reaction with NH3 to end up in urea formation. Overall, the two-step process for large scale production of urea consumes high energy and produces greenhouse gases for the environment.
The research team reported copper-phthalocyanine nanotubes (CuPc NTs) having multiple active sites as an efficient electrocatalyst which exhibits a tremendous yield of urea with good durability and long-term stability. DFT calculation predicts that Pyridinic–N1 in CuPc is responsible for N2 reduction and the metal centre plays an important role for CO2 reduction. This study not only provides us with the co-reduction of N2 and CO2 gases using cost-effective CuPc NTs catalyst but also opens a new pathway to the rational design of other transitional metal-based electrocatalysts having multiple active sites for N2 and CO2 gas fixation applications.
This electrochemical method of urea synthesis by the co-reduction of N2 and CO2 [N2 + CO2 + 6H+ + 6e– → CO(NH2)2 + H2O] using an efficient electrocatalyst in a water medium under ambient conditions would be an alternative way in the upcoming days. All the strategies using alloys and heterostructure for urea synthesis forming C–N bond by the co–reduction of N2 and CO2 have not reached the benchmark in terms of urea yield rate and FE for practical applications. To achieve a high urea yield and FE, various factors are to be considered in this work.
Abstract of the Research
Green synthesis of urea under ambient conditions by electrochemical co-reduction of N2 and CO2 gases using effective electrocatalyst essentially pushes the conventional two steps (N2 + H2 = NH3 & NH3 + CO2 = CO (NH2)2) industrial process at high temperature and high pressure, to the brink. The single-step electrochemical green urea synthesis process has hit a roadblock due to the lack of an efficient and economically viable electrocatalyst with multiple active sites for dual reduction of N2 and CO2 gas molecules to urea. Herein, the research reports copper-phthalocyanine nanotubes (CuPc NTs) having multiple active sites (such as metal centre, Pyrrolic-N3, Pyrrolic-N2, and Pyridinic-N1) as an efficient electrocatalyst which exhibits urea yield of 143.47 µg h-1 mg-1cat and FE of 12.99% at –0.6 V vs RHE by co-reduction of N2 and CO2. Theoretical calculation suggests that Pyridinic-N1 and Cu centres are responsible to form C–N bonds for urea by co-reduction of N2 to NN* and CO2 to *CO respectively. This study provides new mechanistic insight into the successful electro-reduction of dual gases (N2 and CO2) in a single molecule as well as the rational design of an efficient noble metal-free electrocatalyst for the synthesis of green urea.
- Published in Departmental News, News, Physics News, Research News