2026-05-15

The Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) conducted an invited lecture-cum-workshop on innovative mapping techniques for the second batch of FYUGP Social Sciences Internship Programme on 15 May 2026. Seventeen undergraduate students from institutions including MES College Nedumkandam, Mar Athanasius College, and Mar Thoma College participated in the interactive academic event.

Dr. Manjusha K. A. led the technical session, offering insights into cartographic techniques, their application in fieldwork, and their wider significance in social science research. The programme also featured academic guidance from Dr. Punnen Kurian and Dr. Sebastian Joseph, further enriching the learning experience.

The workshop explored the idea of mapping as a powerful tool that goes beyond geographical representation. Students engaged in discussions on how maps can reveal how people experience spaces, remember landscapes, narrate histories, and navigate social and power dynamics within communities. Various forms of cartography and classical and critical approaches to field-based research were introduced.

A key section of the lecture focused on ethnographic fieldwork as a negotiated process shaped by identity, power, and researcher–community relationships. The role of memory as a social and political process was also highlighted, moving beyond the notion of memory as simple recollection.

Participants were introduced to mapping applications in social science research along with oral history methodologies. Topics covered included interview techniques, ethical concerns, practical challenges in oral history documentation, and the importance of reflexivity in research. The session demonstrated how oral histories capture lived experiences, emotions, and community knowledge through spoken narratives.

The event coordination team included Jijomon P. P., Megha M. M., Avany P. R., and Surya S. K. of TIES.