AMMACHI Labs

08/05/2026

Celebrating the power of mentorship, innovation, and young changemakers ✨

A feature by Our Bangalore highlighted how initiatives such as Atal Innovation Mission's Atal Tinkering Labs and programmes are nurturing a new generation of student innovators through hands-on learning, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

The article featured Gayathri Manikutty, Research Lead at AMMACHI Labs, who spoke about the importance of fostering an innovation mindset early and ensuring students are guided throughout their journey — from ideation and design to feedback and real-world constraints.

She emphasised that young minds are “brimming with potential” and that with the right encouragement, mentorship, and opportunities to experiment, students are empowered to explore, innovate, and lead. 💡

Featuring inspiring young innovators including Meghana Doddipalle and Jeya Malhotra, the story reflects how supportive innovation ecosystems can help students transform curiosity into meaningful social impact. 💡

08/05/2026

Celebrating Kerala’s timeless heritage through art, tradition, and craftsmanship ✨

May 8th, 2026 - This elegant handloom saree features a hand-painted portrayal of the iconic Thrissur Pooram, beautifully brought to life by Sharmila, an artisan trained through the Fabric Painting Course conducted by AMMACHI Labs under the United Nations Democracy Fund Women’s Empowerment Project. 💛

Every brushstroke carries the spirit of ’s rich cultural heritage while reflecting the transformative impact of skill-based livelihood initiatives that empower women through sustainable creative opportunities.

For customised hand-painted sarees, connect with WE Project Store ✨
📩 Contact: [email protected]

📸 Photography: Abhidev (.Dev_ on Insta)
✨ Model: Kajari

🌍 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals supported:
🎓 SDG 4 – Quality Education
👩‍🎨 SDG 5 – Gender Equality
💼 SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
🏘️ SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities
♻️ SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production

01/05/2026

🌊 World Seagrass Day 2026 | Event Highlights 🌿
Restoring Seagrass Meadows: Innovation, Community, and Impact

On March 3, 2026, the Center for Women's Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, convened a global webinar bringing together experts from 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇬🇧 UK, and 🇮🇳 India to advance the future of seagrass restoration.

The session featured:
🔹 Prof. Jennifer Verduin (Murdoch University) on scaling restoration from vision to reality
🔹 Dr. Leanne Cullen-Unsworth (Project Seagrass, UK) on linking people, planet, and seagrass futures
🔹 Dr. Shalini Mathur Raina (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) on community-driven restoration in Tamil Nadu

Key insights:
🌱 Seagrasses support 16 of 17 United Nations SDGs and are vital for climate resilience
🌱 Restoration at scale requires science-led site selection and long-term planning
🌱 Community engagement—especially with coastal women—is critical for lasting impact

The webinar highlighted innovative tools, global case studies, and grassroots action, reinforcing the urgent need to restore and protect seagrass ecosystems.

🌍 Outcome: Strengthened global collaboration and shared pathways for community-led seagrass restoration.

01/05/2026

A day in 🌱

30/04/2026

🌍 Global Expertise, Local Impact 🇮🇳

As part of the ongoing initiative under Blue is the New Pink, AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women's Empowerment & Gender Equality ( ) at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham welcomed Dr. Arai Shogo, a pioneer in seaweed research and a leading figure in ’s sea vegetable industry, to project sites in Andhra Pradesh.

Accompanied by Dr. Bhavani Rao R, UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment and Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, the team visited Mangamaripeta (April 28) and Donkuru (April 29) to review progress and guide the next phase.

In , discussions on sea conditions, species selection, and Japanese cultivation practices were followed by field monitoring of the installed clusters. Dr. Arai noted that the recently deployed clusters were performing excellently, affirming the strength of the community-led efforts.

In , the team continued technical exchanges, observed Kappaphycus alvarezii in nearby backwaters, and explored new cultivation approaches. Dr. Arai Shogo is also exploring his method of enriching pond systems in Donkuru and to enhance seaweed growth, expanding possibilities for adaptive, location-specific practices.

Beyond the technical engagement, Dr. Rao led an interactive session with women in Mangamaripeta, encouraging participation in upcoming training programs and reinforcing the transformative role women can play in strengthening their communities.

At its core, this initiative reflects the vision of Amma—to create opportunities where few have existed, enabling women to build self-reliant, dignified, and fulfilling livelihoods.

By combining global expertise with grassroots participation, Neelamritam continues to strengthen coastal resilience and expand pathways for women-led growth in the Blue Economy. 🪸💙

🌍 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals met:
⚖️ SDG 5 – Gender Equality
📈 SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
🌊 SDG 14 – Life Below Water
🤝 SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

29/04/2026

🔦 Spotlight on Indian Women in Science. 💡

April, 2026 - On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, Dr. Bhavani Rao R., Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, was featured on a special program by Sansad TV titled “Celebrating Indian Women in Science.” 🇮🇳

The program brought together some of India’s most respected women in science and leadership, including Nigar Shaji, Annapurni Subramaniam, Sharmila Mande, and Indira Hinduja—highlighting their journeys, challenges, and contributions.

A key theme of the discussion was a pressing question: while has one of the highest rates of women entering education, how do we ensure they are supported to build long-term careers in science?

Drawing from her work at the intersection of technology, gender, and social development, Dr. Bhavani Rao shared thoughtful insights on building inclusive ecosystems that enable women not just to enter, but to thrive. 🌱

The conversation also looked ahead to India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, recognizing the vital role women scientists will play in shaping the nation’s future.

It is especially meaningful to see these perspectives featured on Sansad TV, India’s official parliamentary broadcaster, bringing this important dialogue to a national audience. 🌞

United Nations SDGs Supported:
♀️ SDG 5: Gender Equality
🎓 SDG 4: Quality Education
💡 SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
⚖️ SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

🌍🌎🌏

29/04/2026

🎉🎊🎉 We’re proud to celebrate a wonderful milestone from our Amrita community. 🎉🎊🎉

Dr. Victoria Ustenko, faculty member at the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, has been appointed as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Water! 🌊 (Frontiers)

She is specifically assigned to the Water and Human Systems section—an interdisciplinary space that brings together research on water, society, and sustainable development at a global scale.

Ranked in the top quartile ( ) of its field, Frontiers in Water is recognized for publishing rigorous, high-impact research that reaches scientists, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide. 🌍

In her editorial role, Dr. Victoria will work closely with researchers across the globe—guiding submissions, overseeing peer review, and helping shape the direction of emerging knowledge in water science.

This achievement reflects her dedication, expertise, and the kind of meaningful, globally relevant work we are proud to support at . 🤍

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Victoria on this well-deserved recognition 👏

29/04/2026

🌍 What happens when global research meets real-world farming?

During their recent visit to the WADI project in Odisha, researchers from The Nitsan Lab at Tel Aviv University joined AMMACHI Labs in the field—working directly with farming communities to understand the realities behind sustainable development.

In this short video, Lab Manager Nicole Kuttler and student Nadav Geiger Landesberg share their experience:
🌱 Learning from farmers on orchard and agricultural practices
🐘 Witnessing the challenges of human–wildlife conflict
🥗 Exploring food security and rural livelihoods
🤝 Understanding why listening to local communities is essential

Their reflections capture something fundamental:
sustainable solutions are built with communities—not for them.

🎥 Watch what they learned on the ground:

2 likes. "International students testimonial"

25/04/2026

🌊 : Mahila Pragati Patham -
“Blue Nectar: A Pathway for Women’s Progress” 🌱

From April 21–23, 2026, AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women's Empowerment & Gender Equality ( ) at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham worked with coastal communities across three villages in Andhra Pradesh to advance women-led seaweed cultivation under the Blue is the New Pink initiative.

In the week leading up to these engagements, the team also conducted baseline surveys and basic water safety training in Mangamaripeta, laying the groundwork for safe and informed participation.

With technical support from the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, women engaged in hands-on training and field implementation—leading key stages from seed loading to raft preparation, and supporting offshore installment—building skills, confidence, and ownership. 🐚

📍 Village Progress
🪸 : 30 women prepared a whopping 2 clusters (Each cluster consists of 72 huge tube nets filled with seaweed seed)
🪸 : 20 women prepared 1 cluster
🪸 : 21 women joined the initiative, preparing 1 cluster

Despite strong tides and challenging sea conditions, the momentum remained high and all clusters were successfully installed approx. 1.5km from shore—highlighting both resilience and strong interest in women-led seaweed enterprises.

More than a training, this marks the beginning of a shift toward sustainable livelihoods, marine stewardship, and women as leaders in the Blue Economy. 🪸💙

🌍 Supporting these United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
⚖️ SDG 5 – Gender Equality
📈 SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
🌊 SDG 14 – Life Below Water
🤝 SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

This project is implemented by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham with support from Andhra's Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP).

24/04/2026

We are proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh as Pro Vice Chancellor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Her inspiring journey reflects a deep commitment to excellence and leadership. We look forward to the meaningful impact she will continue to make in shaping the future of education and research.

Check out her profile: https://www.amrita.edu/faculty/maneesha/

We wish her continued success in this new role!

22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day ✨🌎 ✨

Today in Budagatlapalem, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Blue is the New Pink initiative continues to grow. 🌱

Following sessions by members of the Center for Women's Empowerment & Gender Equality & AMMACHI Labs, women here are preparing Kappaphycus seaweed lines that will be set in the water and, over ~45 days, grow many times their original weight, tended every few days.

As it grows, the seaweed draws in carbon and releases oxygen through photosynthesis—a small but real response to warming waters and stressed ecosystems. In a changing climate, even modest interventions like this help ease pressure on marine life, including coastal reefs affected by rising temperatures.

Then it is harvested, replanted, and the cycle continues.
Growth, care, return.

Each cycle brings steady income, financial independence, and a stronger role for women within their communities—while contributing, quietly but meaningfully, to the health of the ocean and the air we all share.