Skip to content Skip to navigation

Open Source Software for Social Science Research

By CM Paul |

A group of 32 scholars from northeast India are participating in a three day workshop on “Open Source Software for Social Science Research” at Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati. The program being held at ADBU’s Azara campus is jointly organised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and NERC Shillong from 6-8 February 2014.

Opening the workshop, ADBU Vice Chancellor Dr Stephen Mavely encouraged scholars to learn and use Open Source Software for their research and scientific writing as a protest against the “ruthless and heartless [software] multinationals,” who charge enormous price for academic software. 

“You are the missionaries of the message that we want to send across, that we would be champions of OSS where ever we are,” said Dr Mavely who has more than 620 computers at Azara campus.

The workshop content include sintroduction to the foundations and techniques of carrying out research, and prepares students to use OSS in conducting social science research.

The workshop also provides scholars with necessary tools, skills and instructions to use OSS. Participants are also taught the basic statistical procedures for analyzing data.

The workshop will consist of lectures, presentations and hands on sessions on Word Processing, Spread Sheet, Presentation Skills, Preparation of Technical Documents, Data Summarization, Query and Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Online Survey, Audio Editing for SS Research, and Video editing for SS Research.

Besides a few scholars from Kolkata and Darjeeling, the majority of the participants are form north-eastern states. 

The workshop, first of its kind conducted in the region for Social Science Research, is coordinated by Dr. Paul Pudussery and Dr Dominic Meyieho along with faculty members. 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Steps to deal with H1N1 after first casualty

10 Mar 2015 - 2:35pm | AT News
The death of swine flu patient in Jorhat has forced the Assam government to intensify the measures to curb the killer disease in the state.The authorities have asked the doctors to provide the best...

BPF MLA arrested from Kokrajhar

23 Aug 2012 - 12:50pm | editor
Amid simmering violence police have arrested BPF MLA Pradeep Kumar Brahma from Kokrajhar on Wednesday night. Brahma, the BPF MLA from West Kokrajhar was picked up by a team of police from his own...
Congress Leader Gaurav Gogoi took part in an election campaign in support of his party candidate from Chaygaon Constituency Rekibuddin Ahmed ahead of the third phase Assembly election at Sampupara, Chaygaon in Kamrup District of Assam on 04-04-21.Pix by UB Photos

Electioneering ends finally

4 Apr 2021 - 6:46pm | AT News
Guwahati : The heat and dust of the electioneering for the final phase of Assam Assembly polls have ended on Sunday. Union home minister Amit Shah held a rally in Sorbhog in the morning and left...

Rockybul opens Pobitora for tourists

3 Nov 2012 - 4:37am | editor
In a major relief for the tourists, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary opened on Friday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain flagged off the first batch of more than 100 tourists, including nine foreigners...

Other Contents by Author

Tea women take empowerment lessons in College

 In a first time effort in the hills, tea women are coming to college to take lessons in empowerment. The academia-industry partnership initiative launched, on 21 February 2021 is at its mid-point marking women’s day 8th March. 28 women from 3 tea plantations in the hills are in this project spanning five Sundays till 21st March 2021. Salesian College Sonada established in 1938 and Tea Promoters India founded in 1980 who own plantations in Darjeeling, Dooars, Assam and Kerala have launched a pilot project entitled: Women Empowerment in Tea Communities. They offer workshops spread out on five Sundays from 21st February to 21 March 2021. In the first phase, ten women workers from...

First Mobile Eye Clinic in North East India Inaugurated

Guwahati, 24th February 2021: For the first time in Northeast India an Ambulance cum Mobile Eye Clinic was launched on 24th February, 2021.  Rtd. Director of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Guwahati, Dr. C. K. Barua inaugurated the mobile unit and Provincial of the Salesian Province of Guwahati, Fr. Januarius Sangma blessed the unit.   Dr. Barua in his impassioned speech said, “This Mobile Eye Clinic is a new beginning, as this is the first mobile eye unit that provides such range of services”.   Speaking at the inaugural function, Programme Coordinator – Health, Bosco Reach Out Mr. Probal S.G, said, “This Mobile Eye Clinic was a result of the...

Don Bosco Migrant Workers Desk Opened

Guwahati: Salesian Province of Guwahati inaugurated Don Bosco Bharosa, the Migrant Desk, on 24th February 2021. “Bharosa in Hindi language means trust and Don Bosco Brand is trusted by both job seekers and job providers,” says director of Bosco Reach Out Fr Jayaprakash. On the working of Migrant Desk Fr. Jayapraksh explains “Our North Eastern desks will network with similar desks in others parts of the country. As the migrant youth from North East India are spread out in all major cities of India, the main objective of Don Bosco Bharosa will be to provide safe migration to the youth of North East India. If the migrant youth of our region face any problem in any part of the country...

Handlooms bring hope to Lengopara artisans

Guwahati, 22 February 2021: Bosco Reach Out, a Guwahati based rural development NGO distributed 80 handlooms and accessories for trained artisans at Lengopara area in Goalpara district of Assam, 22 February 2021. The distribution programme was part of BRO’s on ongoing project SFRUTI supported by Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Govt. of India.  “We have distributed 80 Jacqard looms and accessories among the beneficiaries for their income generating activities to ensure their sustainable livelihood,” says BRO Executive director Fr. A. Jayaprakash. He urged recipients to work hard and produce quality product to achieve the objectives of the project. The...

Radio Salesian Journalist makes to India Book of Records

A Radio journalist working with the first community radio in the Darjeeling Hills has staked his claim and snatched a place in the India Book of Records, 28 September 2020. Program Coordinator and founder member of Radio Salesian, the first Nepali language broadcasting Community Radio in India, RJ Samir Chhetri, a native of Sonada has secured his place in the book of records. The India Book of Records states, “RJ Samir is the first RJ of the first community radio run by a college in North Bengal and entire northeast India.” “This recognition of RJ Samir is a matter of pride for our community radio and inspiration for younger radio journalists to make their mark,” says station...

Solo Song Film honours Mother Teresa on 110th birthday

Kolkata, 23 August 2020 — A Kolkata artist has come up with a new genre song dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to mark the saints 110th birthday, 26 August 1910. The new genre is called Folktronica - a type of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring uses of acoustic instruments – especially stringed instruments – and incorporating hip hop, electronic or dance rhythms, although it varies based on influences and choice of sounds. Made in the pandemic’s lock down times Korak Day of Kolkata calls it “Solo Song Film Art” entitled Nirmal Hriday - an English Bangla music video dedicated to all who volunteered for Mother Teresa’s Works and helped...

School assembly goes to children’s homes

Agartala: A Salesian Sisters’ school in northeast India has come up with a novel idea to stay connected with children during the Covid-19 lockdown times. The Sisters reach Monday school assembly to children’s homes through social media. The idea was born, on the feast day of their foundress St. Mary Mazzarello, 13 May, 2020. Almost 50 days since the Lockdown due to Covid 19, and the Sisters missed the children – both boarders and day scholars, who used to be so much of their life.  “Our community and the entire environment used to be filled with joy and happiness, of fun and laughter and youthfulness,” recalls Sr. Albrida, Principal of Auxilium Girls School Agartala, capital of...

Radio Salesian, UNICEF to spread awareness on COVID-19 in the hills

Radio Salesian (90.8) - The voice of the Hills - run by Salesian College Sonada has been selected as a partner in raising awareness about COVID-19 in a national project sponsored by UNICEF. Titled ‘Mission Corona’, the five-month initiative will feature a 25-minute weekly programme in Nepali language that will focus on issues related to the usage of masks, home quarantine, physical distancing, building immune system, and elderly care, among others. “During this unprecedented public health emergency, as community radio, we can inform and educate people on the impending danger of the pandemic through ‘Mission Corona,’” says station director, Fr. C.M. Paul.  With a transmitter...

Archbishop Menamparampil nominated for Journalism Award

Guwahati: The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) will honour noted peace activist Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, conferring its prestigious annual ‘Louis Careno Award for Excellence in journalism’ for his bold writings against communalism and fundamentalism that is gaining ground globally. The Award will be conferred on the Archbishop by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurien Joseph, during the 25th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organized by the ICPA, scheduled to be held in Delhi, on 29 February 2020.  “Archbishop Menamparampil’s name is synonymous with peace, inter-community dialogue and social harmony. His incisive, thought-provoking writings on...

Industry-College Partnership helps prevent female trafficking in closed gardens

Over a conversation between the legendary tea planter Mr Rajah Banerjee of Rimpaocha Tea Siliguri and Campus Minister at Salesian College Sonada Fr. C.M. Paul on the impending peril of adolescent females being trafficked from the closed tea gardens in the Darjeeling Hills was born the Industry-College Partnership to provide skill training. “Education and skill training is the only solution, to prevent them [girls] from falling easy prey to stalking flesh traders who lure the unsuspecting girls with false promises of quick bucks and better future outside,” says Salesian College Principal Dr. (Fr.) George Thadathil. Mr Banerjee who calls Makaibari the first tea estate to go organic his...