DDA - Dharma Civilization Foundation

GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON DHARMA IN DIGITAL AGE

A Confluence of Academics, Technologists, Public Intellectuals, Policy Makers and Dharma Researchers from around the world

June 13 – 15, 2025

Georgia Tech, atlanta

Registration open

What is DDA ’25

DDA ’25 is Dharma Civilization Foundation’s 3-day conference for exploring Dharma in the digital age. The conference is dedicated to find solutions to protect and enhance the long cherished human values in the age of technology. The event aims to create a community that will continue to address these issues in coming years. Inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions on various tracks and fireside chats are sure to enrich your understanding of the challenges and opportunities at hand.

CONFERENCE THEMES

Leadership and Management
Dharmic approaches to Economics
Dharma of Media
Sewa done Dharmic way
Ethical framework for technology
Dharma based Metrics & Policies

Digital Age, From Dharmic Lens

THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

The digital age has transformed our world, truly turning it into a global village. Technology’s march forward has touched every aspect of society, enhancing various aspects of human life.

DOUBLE -EDGED SWORD

While digital technology is often hailed as a miraculous tool, it brings its share of challenges: privacy concerns, the digital divide, and ethical dilemmas mark today’s hyper-connected society.

THE ROLE OF DHARMA

In the midst of diverse ideologies grappling with these issues, Dharma based models and theory promises to offer a multifaceted understanding and solutions to challenges faced.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Inviting academicians, researchers and intellectuals from all walks of life

Participate in this first of its kind conference to uniquely understand and deliberate upon how Dharma can and should operate in and shape the digital age.

Conference Themes

Leadership and Management

Dharmic Leadership: Principles, Practices, and Impact Across Sphere

This session shall explore the timeless principles of Dharmic leadership and their relevance in guiding organizations, politics, and communities toward harmony and progress. Papers are invited on themes such as the foundational values of Dharmic leadership—ethics, duty (Dharma), and selflessness—and their practical applications in modern contexts. Discussions will delve into various models of Dharmic leadership, their role in conflict prevention, consensus building, and conflict resolution, and how such leadership fosters trust, inclusivity, and sustainable growth. Scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders are encouraged to contribute insights on the transformative potential of Dharmic leadership across diverse sectors and its capacity to address contemporary challenges.

Dharmic approaches to Economics

Dharmic Approaches to Economics – Pathways to Sustainability and Holistic Development

This session invites scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore Dharmic perspectives on reimagining economics for a sustainable and equitable future. Anchored in principles of Abhyudaya (holistic growth and collective well-being), the papers submitted for this session should focus on integrating spiritual wisdom with economic frameworks to address contemporary challenges. Some of the suggested topics include sustainability as a Dharmic imperative, the balance between material and spiritual prosperity, and the transformative potential of cooperative models over competitive approaches in fostering inclusive development. Contributions are encouraged on themes such as ecological harmony, ethical business practices, community-centric development, and the interplay of Dharma and economics in shaping a just and sustainable global economy.

Dharma of Media

Media Ethics and Influence: Navigating Truth, Accountability, and Propaganda

This session seeks to critically examine the complex interplay between media, propaganda, and the principles of responsible journalism in a rapidly changing global landscape. Papers are invited on topics including the enduring values of truth and impartiality, the role of media in shaping public thought, behavior, and opinion, and the mechanisms of accountability in a digital age. The participants are encouraged to explore emerging issues such as the “content trap,” where sensationalism overtakes substance, and the tension between ideological commitments and market-driven imperatives. Scholars and practitioners should contribute insights on ethical reporting, media literacy, propaganda strategies, and the future of media studies in fostering a well-informed and discerning society through research papers submitted for this session.

Sewa done Dharmic way

Dharmic Approaches for Social Work – Sewa, Empathy, and the Path of Selfless-Service

This session delves into the timeless wisdom of empathy, compassion, and duty (Dharma) as cornerstones for impactful social work. Research papers submitted for this session will illuminate Sewa as a spiritual practice rooted in Karma Yoga and the concept of Rna (cosmic debts), comparing it with modern notions of charity and service. Through practitioner experiences and profound insights, discover how Sewa enriches not just communities but also the doer, fostering personal growth, emotional resilience, and spiritual evolution.

Ethical framework for technology

Ethical Frameworks for Technology – Shaping a Responsible Digital Future

This session invites thought leaders, technologists, ethics researchers, and policymakers to examine the critical need for ethical frameworks in technology development and deployment. The session will center on establishing guidelines to evaluate the ethical impact of technology, addressing motives and directions that align innovation with societal values. Papers are encouraged on emerging issues such as privacy, transparency, accountability, access, inclusion, and the unintended consequences of technological solutions. Additionally, the session will explore themes of ethics in tech policy design, the balance between anthropocentric and holistic approaches to technology, and the evolving role of ethics in mitigating risks while maximizing benefits.

Dharma based Metrics & Policies

Beyond Numbers: Dharma-Based Metrics for Mapping Holistic Progress and Well-Being

This session invites researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the development of Dharma-based metrics as alternatives to conventional measurement systems through their papers. With a focus on the limitations of current metrics—often narrowly quantitative and reductionist—the session aims to uncover new approaches that capture lesser-known phenomena, such as well-being, ethical responsibility, and ecological harmony. Papers are encouraged on themes like the philosophical underpinnings of Dharma-driven measurement, the need to go beyond metrics to include qualitative and spiritual dimensions, and the potential for these frameworks to drive more holistic and sustainable development.

Program Committee

Expert Panels

Changing Dynamics for Family

Integrative Health & Well-being

CALL FOR PAPERS

Cash Awards

Up to $50,000 in total scholarships over next 2 years for research emanating from this conference.

Cash awards for ‘Best Extended Abstract’

Travel Grants

Limited number of partial travel grants available on first come first serve basis (Please indicate if you need grant when you submit your Extended Abstract).

Submit Abstracts and Paper

– Short abstract of 100 – 200 words by Mar 15, 2025

– Detailed abstract of 500 – 750 words by Apr 30, 2025

– Full paper by May 30, 2025

Paper Submission Policies

Submissions must reflect original work or major developments in previously reported work. Papers are NOT eligible if 1. They are published prior to the meeting or accepted for publication before being submitted, or 2. Modified in only secondary respects after presentation or publication.
You may elect to submit either full papers (15-30 pages) or extended abstracts (3-5 pages including tables and figures). Final paper will be due by May 30, 2025.
Typically, extended abstracts consist of a statement of research question (and underlying theoretical aspects, if appropriate), the data and research methods, and preliminary findings.
Presenting and non-presenting authors (if applicable) must be accurately reflected in the submission.

Registration

Last Year's Speaker lineup

Last Year's Conference Themes

Technology, society, and multiple worldviews

Ethical issues with various technologies and dharmic perspective on ethics and policy

Approaches to environmental sustainability

Education models in the advent of emerging technologies

Integrative health and wellness

Leadership and group dynamics

Conception of art in the digital age

Glimpses of Dda '24

Dharma and Digital Technology

THE ESSENCE OF DHARMA

Dharma, the foundation of Indic civilization and philosophy, offers principles that support both individuals and society. Yet, its application in addressing digital age challenges remains to be fully articulated.

BEYOND TECHNOLOGY

Advancements in technology alone cannot solve these challenges. A blend of human consciousness, social responsibility, and spiritual evolution, alongside technological innovation, can provide deeper insights.

Reimagining Technology vis-a-vis Culture

INTERFACING TECHNOLOGY AND DHARMIC PHILOSOPHY

We aim to foster dialogue on integrating technology with Dharmic principles, focusing on ontological, epistemological, and axiological aspects.

QUESTIONING TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSALITY

Is technology culture-specific, or does it transcend cultural boundaries seamlessly? This conference seeks to explore how the Dharmic framework can inform practical strategies for the digital era.