Current Happenings

Mr Lakshman Thatikonda, a 3rd year BBA student of SRM University-AP, has started his own business venture (TalentCrew), incubated at the Hatchlab Research Centre– The technology and livelihood business incubator of SRM University-AP.

The talent crew is a skill-based startup. They are one of India’s largest multi-category customised gifting companies, providing one of the best-curated collections of festival merchandise, gifts, handicrafts, wedding cards, carvings & personalised products for all occasions & festivals. TalentCrew has a global footprint with customers spanning 20 plus countries and the capability to deliver gifts to over 50 countries and 300 plus cities in India. Mr Lakshman started this organisation on the principles of creativity, agility, and social responsibility.

Over the next few years, TalentCrew envisions exploring and developing new products and services that will actively expand business while touching social responsibility.

Experience at Hatchlab Research Centre

The Hatchlab research centre aims to support SRM E-Cell’s mission of developing entrepreneurial talent and fostering the commercialisation of new ideas ventures. “Working with Hatchlab research centre was always a great experience. Here I found the fresh start for the innovation, and here the programme is very well structured with the right blend of practice,” says Mr Lakshman. “The best thing about this programme is that it allows me to learn while still being employed. And I always feel thankful for Dr Lakshmana Rao sir, for motivating me on every stand that I take, and Udayan Bakshi sir, for giving me such a wonderful opportunity” he added.

Technology is deeply integrated into the human society. The Department of Management Studies invites you all to the Eminent Lecture Series with our guest Prof Haribabu Ejnavarzala, for an engaging session on the economic, social, and other impacts of new technology on our lives.

Topic: Technologies are not disembodied artefacts: They are socio-technical systems

Date: December 22, 2021

Time: 10.30 am IST

About the Speaker:

Prof Haribabu Ejnavarzala is an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Research, and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries, New Delhi and Former Vice-Chancellor-in-Charge, University of Hyderabad (UoH).

Abstract:

Technologies are socio-technical systems. The forces that shape the development of technology are social, economic, cultural, political, and ethical in nature. A technology introduced into society has consequences for interrelated domains -social (class, caste, gender relations), economic, political, cultural, and ethical. Technologies also affect the environment- water, soil, air, and non-human forms of life. In other words, technologies are embedded in societal and environmental contexts. In order to understand the values and interests underlying the construction of technological innovation and its consequences, we have to unpack the design of a given technology and its associated practices. Technologies are intricately related to the interests and meaning structures of stakeholders. In this lecture, I focus on genetic modification of crops to show that it is a socio-technical system deeply connected with interests, sometimes conflicting interests, and meanings of relevant stakeholders – farmers who use the technology, consumers of products produced by genetic modification of crops, government, regulatory agencies, judiciary, and civil society organisations in the Indian context. In conclusion, I argue that innovations that promote equity, inclusivity and justice will have more significant social acceptability.

Please join this spirited session with our eminent guest on December 22, 2021, at 10.30 am IST for the next edition of Eminent Lecture Series.