oikos Newsletter
February '14
be informed - get involved - make a difference
Dear Reader,
February may seem like a time of hibernation but not for oikos! First, do not forget to apply to the Model WTO by February 16: this is a great opportunity to learn from WTO experts and participate in a weeklong simulation. For those looking for leadership development and to make a large impact on the organization, oikos is looking for a new president and new executive board members to be elected at the Spring Meeting in Copenhagen. In a step forward, oikos Pune has created an innovative sustainability incubator and hopes to turn student ideas into ecofriendly businesses. Finally, Shailee Pradhan shares her experience as an oikos PhD fellow in 30 seconds!
oikos Students
 Model WTO – Last Chance to Apply!
Don't forget to apply for the Model WTO to participate in a weeklong simulation of WTO ministerial negotiations. Learn from WTO professionals and from the diverse amount of students and backgrounds represented on the issue of global value chains. If this sounds good, apply by February 16 and engage in stimulating discussions in Switzerland for a week!
 Call for New President & EB
Are you passionate about sustainability and working with students across the world? Why not apply for the oikos Presidency or Executive Board to really make a difference? Non-EU citizens are eligible to apply for both positions. Deadline to apply is March 20, with more information about both roles here.
oikos Pune Creates Innovation Centre
 oikos Pune has founded the new Sustainability and Innovation Incubation Centre. As one of the first centre of its kind in India, it hopes to incubate sustainability startups and develop student skills and ideas. 46 students have already enrolled for direct and virtual incubation!
oikos Alumni
oikos Finance Initiative
 Working on oikos projects that integrate sustainability into finance education and research? Or just interested in the topic? Join our new oikos Finance Initiative group on Facebook.
30 seconds with...
Shailee Pradhan, oikos PhD fellow, 2011-2014
 When I first learned of oikos four years ago, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. But I would have never guessed just how big a part of my life oikos would be. The oikos Lab has practically been my home for the past three years and the team in St. Gallen my family. With my PhD fellowship coming to an end, I am happy to share my oikos journey with you.
As an oikos PhD fellow, I have had the opportunity to see many sides of oikos and be engaged in different activities. I began my first year at oikos managing the Project Leadership Program and co-organizing the oikos Young Scholars Economics Academy. I was immediately drawn to the oikos Young Scholars Academy for its role in engaging young researchers to advance policy-oriented research. I spent my second and third year of the fellowship organizing the annual economics academies. The academies also helped shape my own doctoral research as I met and worked with like-minded graduate students from different parts of the world.
Besides my oikos fellowship, I am also a research assistant at the Institute of Insurance Economics. I am currently writing my dissertation on microinsurance in the Philippines where I spent the past four months managing a research project. Microinsurance is insurance solutions for low-income individuals and households and despite its potential benefits as a means of managing risk for the poor, demand for it remains very low. My research focuses on trying to understand the barriers to microinsurance demand as well as potential solutions to making microinsurance more viable.
While my PhD fellowship is complete, I am certain that oikos and I have a long way to go together. Here are friends and memories that will last a life-time.
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Outlook
21 February – 2 March: oikos Winter School, Witten/Herdecke, Germany
3 – 6 April: oikos Spring Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark
7 – 10 April: oikos Young Scholars Energy Academy 2014, St. Gallen, Switzerland
6 - 11 April: oikos Model WTO, St. Gallen, Switzerland
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