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IGSD (Assistant)Professor receives substantial research grant for BREATHE project
Dr Hita Unnikrishnan has been awarded a substantial research grant by the British Academy following their International Interdisciplinary Research Projects Awards 2026.
Dr Unnikrishnan, an assistant professor within IGSD, received almost 拢300,000 towards her research project titled 鈥楤uilding Resilience through Equitable Action on Temperature, Heat, and indoor Emissions鈥� (BREATHE), which is being co-investigated by Dr Lavanya Suresh (Birla Institute of Technology and Science), Dr Manik Gupta (Birla Institute of Technology and Science) and Dr Deepshikha Batheja (One Health Trust).
The BREATHE project, which will be carried out over a period of two years, aims to investigate how historical and intersectional inequalities influence differential experiences of heat stress and indoor air pollution (IAP) among members of peri-urban households within the global south.
Working on the hypothesis that women and vulnerable family members within patriarchally-structured households are more likely to suffer from higher rates of heat stress and IAP (due to factors such as more time spent within the home and exposure to unclean cooking fuels), Dr Unnikrishnan and her co-investigators will be combining historical research with large household surveys, satellite data analysis and machine learning models in the Bidar and Chikkaballapur districts of south Indian Karnataka. The project will be pivotal to understanding existing barriers regarding equitable health outcomes and the gendered considerations of climate impact, demonstrating the social and health implications of global sustainability that our School鈥檚 research division works tirelessly to raise awareness of.
We congratulate Dr Unnikrishnan on her outstanding achievement. Watch this space for more updates on this project to come!
University of 糖心TV Launches 2026 ECR Sustainability Training Academy to Shape Global Planetary Solutions
The University of 糖心TV proudly launched the Early Career Researcher Sustainability Training Academy 2026 (ECR STA 2026), 24-27March, 2026. This flagship initiative, organized by the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD) in collaboration with the University鈥檚 Sustainability Spotlight and Society and Culture Spotlight, aims to empower the next generation of transdisciplinary leaders. The 2026 Academy brings together 20 of 糖心TV鈥檚 most innovative postgraduate and early career researchers (ECRs) for an intensive four-day programme. Building on the success of previous iterations in Venice (2025) and the global STS (2023 and 2024), this year鈥檚 academy focuses on critical interdisciplinary concepts, innovative methodologies, and creative reflections "beyond the Self."
The ECR STA 2026 continues 糖心TV鈥檚 commitment to global partnerships, supported by alliances such as EUTOPIA, GUILD, Monash Alliance, and UN SDSN UK. By pioneering new ways of training, the University remains at the forefront of driving just and equitable transitions toward a more resilient future.
For more information on the ECR STA 2026 and the Institute for Global Sustainable Development, please visit the
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Department of International Relations, in collaboration with the European Foreign Policy Unit, hosted Professor Elena Korosteleva鈥檚 latest book launch, Complexity and Community in International Relations: Nurturing Resilience in Central Eurasia.
The event centered on Professor Korosteleva鈥檚 innovative research, which challenges traditional "top-down" policy approaches to resilience. By examining communities across Belarus, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, the book revealed how social memory, centuries-old traditions, and deep-rooted cultural ideas serve as vital lifelines in the face of poverty, climate emergencies, and the ravages of war. "Rather than treating resilience as a mere policy tool, this study reframes it as a complex, communal process of identity and political agency," says Korosteleva. "It offers a lesson for all social and political actors globally as we navigate the uncertainties of the Anthropocene."
The panel was chaired by Prof. Federica Bicchi (LSE) and discussants included:
- David Chandler: Professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster and Editor of the journal Anthropocenes.
- Emilian Kavalski: Professor of International Relations at Tampere University, Finland
- Teona Giuashvili: DINAM Fellow at the LSE Department of International Relations and former Georgian diplomat.
The discussion was recorded as a podcast, and the link will be available shortly for further information.