Lucknow: A two-day national conference titled Women in Academia, Research and Management for Work-life Initiatives for Sustainable Health & Empowering Safety (WARM-WISHES 2026) was inaugurated at the Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus. The conference is jointly organized by CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow and Amity University, bringing together scientists, academicians, policymakers and students from across the country.
The conference was inaugurated by Baby Rani Maurya, Minister for Women Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition, Government of Uttar Pradesh. In her inaugural address, she appreciated the initiative of the organizing institutions and emphasized the need to strengthen women’s participation in research, governance and social development. She also highlighted the importance of safety, health awareness and environmental responsibility, while encouraging women to move forward with confidence in diverse fields.
Earlier, the inaugural session was welcomed by Wg. Cdr. (Retd.) Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Amity University, who underlined the vital role of women in shaping society and future generations. Dr Qamar Rahman, Dean (Research, Science & Technology), highlighted the historic contributions of women to education and knowledge systems and stressed the importance of empowering women in science and academia.
Prof. (Dr.) Anil Vashisht, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Amity University Uttar Pradesh, emphasized that such conferences promote interdisciplinary dialogue and provide young researchers an opportunity to present their work and build collaborations.
Dr Bhaskar Narayan, Director, CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, spoke about the importance of respect, equality and collective responsibility in achieving meaningful gender empowerment. Guest of Honour Shipra Pathak, Founder and CEO of Panchtatva Foundation, encouraged participants to draw inspiration from women leaders in Indian history while embracing innovation and modern scientific progress.
The conference will continue over the next two days with scientific sessions, panel discussions and poster presentations focusing on women’s leadership, sustainable health, innovation and inclusive development.
