Building an information-resilient society

The international conference on Building Information Resilient Society in the Changing Information Ecosystem, jointly organized by the University of Calcutta (CU), Kolkata, and the Institute of Development Studies Kolkata (IDSK), was held at the College Street Campus of CU, India, from 27–28 March 2024. The event brought together a diverse group of global experts to explore the growing importance of building resilient information ecosystems. The event featured five plenary and ten technical sessions, during which 38 papers were presented by researchers and practitioners from various disciplines, addressing topics such as data governance, disaster risk management, and the integration of frontier technologies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The keynote address, delivered by Animesh Kumar of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Office, emphasized the importance of risk-informed development and climate action, stressing the need for sustainable risk management practices to mitigate crises. Other key presentations discussed the challenges of sustainable tourism in the Himalayas, low-energy societal well-being, and the role of renewable energy in conflict recovery. The conference fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, with participants exchanging ideas on enhancing the resilience of information ecosystems. By focusing on crisis management and sustainable development, the event highlighted the critical role of resilient information infrastructures in creating a more connected and harmonious society. This conference reinforced the necessity of collaboration among scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to create a sustainable, resilient future. The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to building information-resilient societies that are equipped to face the complex challenges of the modern world.