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Category : Announcements

Faith or Expertise? Adil Ahsan, a Public Policy Ph.D Candidate, on Who Delivers Public Health Messages Best

Mar 3, 2026 | Announcements, News, Pakistan, Students

Faith or Expertise? Adil Ahsan, a Public Policy Ph.D Candidate, on Who Delivers Public Health Messages Best

Adil Ahsan, a Ph.D candidate in Public Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, spent his summer in Lahore, Pakistan through a Mittal Institute student grant. His study examined whether handwashing messages delivered by religious leaders are more effective than those from secular authorities, in order to evaluate the extent to which low trust in state institutions can blunt informational interventions among religious populations. We spoke with Adil for more on his project.

Harvard Divinity Student Kazal Barua ’27 Studies How a Bangladeshi Monk Reimagines Monasticism

Feb 9, 2026 | Announcements, Bangladesh, News, Students

Harvard Divinity Student Kazal Barua ’27 Studies How a Bangladeshi Monk Reimagines Monasticism

Kazal Barua ’27, a Harvard Divinity School Master of Theological Studies student, spent his winter conducting research in Bangladesh through a Mittal Institute student grant. His project, “Reimagining the Roles of Buddhist Monastics in Bangladesh: The Case of Shasana Rakkhit Bhikkhu and BCCUL” examined how a Buddhist monk blends spiritual insight with corporate skills to lead a financial organization, drive cross-religious community development, and reimagine the traditional role of monasticism. We spoke with Kazal for more on his project.

Mittal Institute Welcomes Six New Steering Committee Members

Feb 9, 2026 | Announcements, Faculty, News

Mittal Institute Welcomes Six New Steering Committee Members

The Mittal Institute is pleased to welcome six new members to its Steering Committee. These individuals bring a wide range of expertise, perspectives, and leadership experience that will strengthen the Institute’s mission and strategic direction. We are grateful to our new members — Feyaad Allie, Swayam Bagaria, David Jones, Gautam Nair, Subir Sachdev, and Martha Ann Selby — for their willingness to serve and contribute their time and insight. Read on to learn more about them and their research expertise.    

Fatima Fayyaz, Syed Babar Ali Fellow, Traces Āshūrā Poetry Across South Asia and Iran

Feb 2, 2026 | Announcements, Fellows, News, Pakistan

Fatima Fayyaz, Syed Babar Ali Fellow, Traces Āshūrā Poetry Across South Asia and Iran

The Mittal Institute is pleased to welcome Fatima Fayyaz, who joins us this spring semester as the Syed Babar Ali Fellow. Fatima is an Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and Creative Arts at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Her research focuses on Persian mystical and epic literature across Iran and the broader Persianate world, including Central Asia, Afghanistan, and South Asia. During her fellowship at the Mittal Institute, Fatima will undertake a comparative study of āshūrā poetry in Urdu and Persian, tracing its development from the 16th century onward in South Asia and Iran. We spoke with Fatima to learn more about her research and the focus of her fellowship.

Ayurveda, Western Medicine, and the Mind: Josh Mysore ’26 Conducts Student Research in India

Feb 2, 2026 | Announcements, India, News, Students

Ayurveda, Western Medicine, and the Mind: Josh Mysore ’26 Conducts Student Research in India

Josh Mysore ’26, a Harvard College dual concentrator in Computer Science and Social Studies, spent his summer conducting thesis research in Kerala, Bangalore, and Auroville, India through a Mittal Institute student grant. His project examined the history and frameworks of Ayurvedic medicine, in contrast with Western medicine, to understand how culture and scientific method shape concepts of the mind and psyche. We spoke with Josh for more on his project.

The Lancet Citizens’ Commission: Report Launch

Jan 30, 2026 | Announcements, In Region, India, News

The Lancet Citizens’ Commission: Report Launch

The Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System—supported by the Mittal Institute—is an ambitious, cross-sectoral initiative aimed at charting a pathway toward universal health coverage for the people of India. Launched in December 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has since undertaken a series of in-depth research studies. The public launch of its final report on January 21, 2026 in New Delhi, India marked the culmination of a multi-year effort to synthesize evidence and articulate reform pathways for a health system that is equitable, forward-looking, and accountable to India’s citizens.

Rajan Rawal on the Hidden Burden of Everyday Heat

Jan 21, 2026 | Announcements, Climate, Faculty, News

Rajan Rawal on the Hidden Burden of Everyday Heat

How is heat actually experienced in everyday life across homes, workplaces, and cities? At a February 3 Mittal Institute event, Between Comfort and Heat Stress: The Hidden Burden of Everyday Heat, scholars from building science, urban design, and environmental health will come together to examine the growing disconnect between how heat is measured and how it is lived. Ahead of the event, we spoke with panelist Rajan Rawal, Professor at CEPT University and Senior Advisor at the Center for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE), to gather his perspective on how everyday environments shape thermal exposure, behavior, and health.

Announcing the 2026 Recipients of the Mittal Institute Faculty Climate Research Grants

Jan 20, 2026 | Announcements, Climate, Faculty, News

Announcing the 2026 Recipients of the Mittal Institute Faculty Climate Research Grants

The Mittal Institute is pleased to announce its 2026 recipients of the Faculty Climate Research Grants. These grants are designed to foster deeper scholarly engagement on climate change, catalyze the creation of new knowledge, and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions across South Asia. Projects focused on three main research categories: energy transition and energy policy; food systems, agriculture, and land use; and law and policy for climate transition and adaptation.