20th Annual Himalayan Policy Research Conference 

May. 18th & 19th, 2026

Hybrid: University of New Mexico & Zoom

Registeration

May 18th, 2026

8:00-8:05am U.S. Mountain Time (7:45pm-7:50pm Nepal Time) 

Welcome Remarks: Dr. Samrat  Kunwar

8:05-8:50am U.S. Mountain Time (7:50-8:35pm Nepal Time)

Keynote Address: Dr. Alok K. Bohara

Politics, Economics, and the Problem of Development: A systems Framework for Nepal

8:50-9:00am U.S. Mountain Time (8:35-8:45pm Nepal Time)

20th Year Celebration

9:00-10:20am U.S. Mountain Time (8:45-10:05pm Nepal Time)

Session 1: Human Capital

Moderator: Dr. Mohammad Mashiur Rahman

• 1. Impact of Family System on Burnout Syndrome among Medical Professionals in India: Serial mediation of Psychological Capital and Perceived Organizational Support (Ranita Ghosh, Madhumita Mohanty)

• 2. Communication Performs the Role of a Mediator between Leadership Behavioral Practices and Effectiveness in Virtual Functioning in India (Arpita Bhattacharyya; Madhumita Mohanty) 

• 3. The penalty of overeducation in India: Evidence from PLFS data (Soumyajit Chakraborty; Kamlesh K. Maurya; Anup K. Yadava)

• 4. Developing Teacher Emotional Literacy through Action Research: Findings from the First Intervention Cycle in Nepal (Bhawana Shrestha; Manila Deshar; Sagar Satyal)

10:20-10:40am U.S. Mountain Time (10:05-10:25pm Nepal Time)

Coffee Break

10:40-11:40am U.S. Mountain Time (10:25-11:25pm Nepal Time)

Special panel: Institutionalizing Heritage Learning: A Pathway to Nepal’s Knowledge Economy

Chair of the Session: Dr. Mary Jo Bulbrook

Presenter: Dr. Man Bahadur Bishwakarma

Panelists: Drona Rasali; Uttam Gaulee; Anita Pariyar

11:40am-12:40pm U.S. Mountain Time (11:25pm-12:25am Nepal Time)

Session 2: Sustainability

Moderator: Dr. Jingjing Wang

• 1. Transformative Knowledge and Innovation for Planetary Sustainability, Bridging Science, Indigenous Wisdom, and Policy (Medani P. Bhandari)

• 2. Obstructed Flow: Navigating Governance Challenges, Logistical Delays, and Climatic Risks in Kathmandu's Melamchi Water Supply Project (Prajjwal K. Panday)

1:00-3:00pm U.S. Mountain Time

HPRC Business Meeting Luncheon (Invited Only)

May 19th, 2026

8:00-9:00am U.S. Mountain Time (7:45-8:45pm Nepal Time) 

Session 3: Energy and Climate

Moderator: Dr. Disha Shende

• 1. Impact of Climate Variability on Household Migration in Rural Nepal (Umesh Pokharel)

• 2. Synoptic and Dynamical characteristics of significant and non-significant Western disturbances (WD’s) during winter precipitation over the Northern states of India (Neetu Tyagi; Shalini Saxena; S.D. Kotal)

• 3. Solar-Powered Irrigation and Livelihood Diversification in Nepal (Dikshya Chaulagain; Kashi Kafle)

9:00-10:20am U.S. Mountain Time (8:45-10:05pm Nepal Time) 

Session 4: Labor Market

Moderator: Dr. Mandy Liu

• 1. Empowerment Through Community-Based Cooperatives: Lived Experiences of Farming Women in Suryabinayak, Nepal (Aayushma Pokhrel;  Ichchhuk Poudyal)

• 2. The Role of Formal Vocational Training in Female Labor Force Participation: Evidence from Nepal (Prajjwal Dhungana; Krishna Sharma)

• 3. The Role of Political Parties in Enhancing Women's Participation in Nepalese Politics (Devaka K.C.)

• 4. Do Remittances Influence the REER–Export Link? Evidence from Nepal (Bipin Khadka; Sanjeev Nhemhafuki; Resham Thapa-Parajuli)

• 5. The difference gender makes: political power of men and women’s civil society movements during conflict (Carly Millerd; Subindra Bogati)

10:20-10:40am U.S. Mountain Time (10:05-10:25pm Nepal Time)

Coffee Break

10:40-12:00pm U.S. Mountain Time (10:25-11:45pm Nepal Time) 

Session 5: Interdisciplinary

Moderator: Dr. Samrat Kunwar

• 1. Does migration improve food security? Evidence from rural Nepal (Bipin Khadka; Sanjeev Nhemhafuki; Manab Prakash; Nirmal Kumar Raut; Alexandre Skiba)

• 2. Mapping the U.S.–Canada Gun Trade: A Spatial and Econometric Analysis (2010–2019) (Keshav Bhattarai)

• 3. From Biomass to Clean Cooking: Drivers and Spatial Disparities in Nepal’s Fuel Transition (Hari Katuwal)

12:00-1:00pm U.S. Mountain Time (11:45pm-12:30am Nepal Time) 

Wrap up and happy hour