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WAVES 2020 Youth Conference presented by HSC & WAVES

The 2020 WAVES Youth Conference was held virtually on January 31, 2021.

WAVES is an interdisciplinary society that enables scholarship for a multitude of topics related to Vedic Studies. Since 1994, WAVES has hosted biannual conferences around the world. WAVES has published academic papers and has hosted presentations, panels, and roundtable discussions for scholars in the Vedic Studies.

This year’s conference co-hosts are World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES International), Wider Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES India), Hindu Students Council, and S-Vyasa Bangalore.

This is the first time HSC took part in the youth conference. With dozens of papers submitted for consideration, the success of the 2020 Youth Conference ensures that HSC will continue to be involved with the WAVES youth initiative in future years.

The Youth Conference will begin on January 31, 2021 at 12pm Eastern
Below is the Conference Schedule and links to watch all of the talks on HSC’s Youtube and Facebook pages.
Click here for Full Youtube Playlist
Click here for Full Facebook Playlist

Name Affiliation Start Time (EST) Topic Watch on Youtube Watch on Facebook
Harsh Agarwal Vice President of Events, HSC 12:00 PM EST Introduction: WAVES 2020 Conference, Phase III Youtube Link Facebook Link
Keerthana Kothapalli John P. Stevens High School 12:05 PM EST The Role of a Temple in Hindu Dharma An understanding of origins, architecture, and value of temples through the ages Youtube Link Facebook Link
Vivek Rallabandi John P. Stevens High School 12:24 PM EST The Structure of Dharmic Marriage: How its Deliberate Design Has Upheld our Tradition for Millenia Youtube Link Facebook Link
Sansdhita Anand Independence High School 12:50 PM EST Kanyadaan: A chauvinistic ritual or a noble tradition? Youtube Link Facebook Link
Anagha Hesaraghatta & Nidhi Rao University of South Florida 1:07 PM EST Back to the Basics: Learning how to preserve our environment from ancient Vedic literature Youtube Link Facebook Link
Anvesh Jain University of Toronto 1:20 PM EST Jhandi, Desh, Dharma: Hinduism and Ethnic Identity in the West Indies Youtube Link Facebook Link
Pranav Kalkunte Independence High School 1:38 PM EST Guru Shishya Parampara: A key vehicle for the propagation of the eastern religions Youtube Link Facebook Link
Vishal Thyagarajan Centennial High School 1:51 PM EST Salvation vs Moksha – Differing beliefs by different religions about ways of attaining the ideal end state. A comparative analysis Youtube Link Facebook Link
Arushi Sree Ramaka Montgomery High School 2:11 PM EST Unraveling The Maya of Social Media and Entertainment Platforms Youtube Link Facebook Link
Manani Seth Reedy School 2:32 PM EST Are mantras merely boring recitations? Youtube Link Facebook Link
Krishna Desai Rutgers University 2:44 PM EST Vedic Roots of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Youtube Link Facebook Link
Bhuvanesh Prabakar Bridgewater Raritan High School 2:59 PM EST The Economy of Hindu Dharma Youtube Link Facebook Link
Rajiv Malhotra, Keynote Infinity Foundation 3:15 PM EST Keynote Panel: Rajiv Malhotra & Hindu students on Artificial Intelligence Youtube Link Facebook Link
Richa Jani Plano West High School 4:00 PM EST Keeping the Faith: The Significance of Bhakti in Kali Yuga Youtube Link Facebook Link
Malvika S. Sawant Johns Creek High School 4:16 PM EST Importance of Vedas and Their Influence on Life Youtube Link Facebook Link
Pranav Kalkunte Independence High School 4:40 PM EST An Estimate of the Vastness of the Hindu Scriptures – An Analysis Youtube Link Facebook Link
Dhaval Nayi Kings College London 4:54 PM EST Analyzing the Effect of Reincarnation and Karma on Human behavior Youtube Link Facebook Link
Prasiddha Sudhakar Rutgers University 5:14 PM EST Rediscovering Hindu civilization in Pakistan and Afghanistan Youtube Link Facebook Link
Mansa Devaki Seabury Hall 5:33 PM EST Karma Over the Yugas Youtube Link Facebook Link
Dhanesh Budhram UNC Chapel Hill 6:00 PM EST How monkeys, bears, and squirrels contributed to developing Hinduism in Guyana Youtube Link Facebook Link
Aditya Goel St Marks School of TX 6:45 PM EST The Relevance of Sanskrit and Panini’s Ashtadhyayi in Natural Language Processing and Computer Linguistics Youtube Link Facebook Link

The conference features dozens of presentations by students on their papers that have been submitted to WAVES for publication. Our keynote panel features Shri Rajiv Malhotra in a discussion with HSC students on the topic of artificial intelligence.

Official Conference Flyer:

WAVES-HSC 2020 Youth Academic Conference

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