Mangaluru: A two-day national-level workshop on Disaster Ethics and Research in Disaster Settings was successfully conducted on July 1 and 2, 2025, at the Centre for Ethics, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under Grant no. 1R25TW010305, the workshop brought together eminent bioethics and public health experts, offering valuable insights into the ethical complexities that arise during disaster situations.

The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. M. Vijayakumar, Honourable Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), who commended the Centre for Ethics for addressing a highly relevant and timely subject.

Eminent speakers lead insightful sessions

The opening address was delivered by Dr. Donal O’ Mathuna, Professor at the College of Nursing, Ohio State University, who introduced the subject of disaster ethics and its importance in global health and emergency response contexts.

Subsequent sessions were led by a distinguished panel of speakers, including:

  • Dr. Amar Jesani, Independent Consultant and Visiting Professor at the Centre for Ethics, known for his work in bioethics and public health.

  • Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Retired Professor from the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, TISS, and Visiting Professor at the Centre for Ethics.

  • Dr. Geeta Balakrishnan, Former Principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai.

  • Dr. Vina Vaswani, Director of the Centre for Ethics, Yenepoya, who played a key role in conceptualising and coordinating the workshop.

    • Diverse participation and interactive format

    The workshop was conducted in hybrid mode, allowing wider participation from both in-house and external attendees. A total of 24 participants from varied academic and professional backgrounds took part in the event. These included researchers, faculty members, and healthcare professionals with an interest in ethical frameworks applicable to disaster response and research.

    Interactive discussions allowed participants to express their perspectives, ask questions, and seek clarifications. The sessions covered themes such as ethical dilemmas in disaster response, gender-sensitive approaches, and community-based interventions.

    Participants lauded the structure of the programme and the expertise of the speakers, describing the workshop as intellectually stimulating and deeply relevant to present-day challenges.

    A fitting conclusion

    The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by the distribution of certificates of appreciation to all speakers and participants. A group photograph was taken to commemorate the occasion.

    The Centre for Ethics at Yenepoya continues to serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and professional development in the field of bioethics, reaffirming its commitment to socially responsible research and education.