This weeks update comes a day early, from Boston!

Ed Malecki is in Dublin to present a paper at the Regional Studies Association annual conference, hosted by Trinity College Dublin.
The RSA has very interesting resources including a page on regional policy for post-Brexit Britain

Last week we mentioned two alumni who have earned honorary doctorates. This week we turn to focus on TR Lakshmanan (PhD, 1965) who earned a doctorate here and who was conferred with an honorary doctorate in 2006. On that joyful occasion, Larry Brown hosted Laksh and Dr. Lata Chaterjee during their visit to Columbus.

T. R. Lakshmanan (Ph.D. 1965, Hon.D.Sc. 2006) is known for his work in transportation, energy, environmental, housing, and regional planning issues. He is an international expert on infrastructures, especially energy and transportation, in settings that range from North America to developing countries. His expertise has been widely sought around the world, and in the academic and policy communities. Lata Chatterjee (Ph.D. 1973 - Johns Hopkins) is internationally known for her work on housing analysis and policy, urban and regional development, economic analysis of vulnerability and poverty issues in the developing world including environmental issues, gender, and local governance.

The T. R. Lakshmanan and Lata R. Chatterjee Graduate Scholar in Geography Endowment Fund is an ongoing recognition of their life’s work in regional development, bettering the lives of many, and addressing issues of the Global South; in honor of all they have given and accomplished and an opportunity to amplify it through others. Specifically, the terms of their endowment reads in part:

“The annual distribution from this fund shall be used to recognize a distinguished graduate student in the Department of Geography who is in the Ph.D. program; who is either from the Global South (Asia, Africa, or Latin America) or carrying out research on the Global South; who is professionally focused on issues of benefit to humanity; and who has demonstrated professional promise.”

The current Lakshmanan-Chatterjee awardees (2017) are Anurag Mazumdar (adviser Nancy Ettlinger) and Gabriel Zeballos (adviser Bryan Mark).

Late news from this week will be reported next time.