- The series focuses on helping high school students develop crucial skills necessary for a journey of lifelong learning.
- Attendees receive a Letter of Participation in appreciation for their efforts during the workshop.
FLAME University, the pioneer of liberal education in India, held the second workshop of the FLAME Upskill Series, “The Psychology of Loneliness” on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at 4 pm.
FLAME Upskill is a series of exclusive workshops for high school students on interdisciplinary topics from various fields spanning humanities, sciences, artificial intelligence, communication, sports, and arts amongst others. The series has been conceptualized as a reflection of the liberal education ethos practiced and delivered at FLAME University. The first workshop on “The special effects on Cinema before VFX” was successfully held on 12th September 2020.
The topic of the second workshop, “The Psychology of Loneliness”, was especially timely and pertinent due to various mental stresses and pressures faced by societies across the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuing lockdowns, and their impact on families and social lives. The advent of the “New Normal” and adapting to it has been a challenge for many and as loneliness makes it harder, understanding how to interpret it and cope with it has become crucial.
The workshop was conducted by Prof. Aparna Shankar, Faculty of Psychology, FLAME University who holds a Ph.D. in Health Psychology from the University of Leeds. She works on health and well-being in older adults, with a particular emphasis on the role of social relationships. Her other research interests include the patterning of health behaviors, the role of the environment on health, and inequalities in access to care.
Speaking about the workshop, Prof. Aparna Shankar said, “I am glad to be part of the second workshop under FLAME’s Upskill Series. My session focused on the psychology of loneliness, and it was fascinating to hear about high school students’ perspectives on loneliness. Keeping the current scenario in mind, it is extremely important to acknowledge that we must remain socially connected while physically distant.”
