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<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:1.85pt">Dear<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>IE <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">colleagues:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.05pt">We<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>are<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span>writing<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>seek<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>your<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>assistance<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>helping<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>IE<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>discipline<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>India.<span style="letter-spacing:4.0pt"> </span>Specifically,<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>we<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>seeking your participation in one (or both) of the following events:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="mso-margin-top-alt:.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">a)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><b>Two IE related conferences will be held in Bangalore, India in December 2023
</b>that could use your participation as a speaker.<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt">
</span>One is organized by the Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>(IIIE)<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>(website<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>under<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>preparation),<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>other<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>by<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>Operations<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>Research<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>Society of India (ORSI)<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt">
</span>( <a href="https://mgmt.iisc.ac.in/orsi-ka/"><span style="color:#0462C1">https://mgmt.iisc.ac.in/orsi-ka/</span></a><span style="color:#0462C1">
</span>) .<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt"> </span>Even though these are separate<span style="letter-spacing:4.0pt">
</span>conferences, they will be integrated, such that one conference registration will allow you to participate and<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>speak at both!<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt"> </span>We are<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>working<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>with the State<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>Government to declare the entire week, “Industrial Engineering & Operations Research” Week to honor and increase visibility of our discipline. If your schedule allows you to travel to India, we welcome your participation as an invited speaker.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="mso-margin-top-alt:.15pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right:7.3pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">b)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>We are also<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span>
organizing<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span>an <b>IE Doctoral Colloquium<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>Mumbai, India<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span></b>on<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>the campus of NITIE/IIM from January 29<sup>th
</sup>-February 2<sup>nd</sup> 2024. The Colloquium will be an expanded version of the IISE Doctoral Colloquium<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>that<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>includes<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>additional<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>one-to-one<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>mentoring<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>PhD<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>students<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>with<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>objective<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>of improving the level of PhD IE research in India.<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt">
</span>Local hospitality during the Colloquium will be provided by NITIE.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:8.2pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:41.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%">
For those overseas faculty who are able to participate in the colloquium, we are hoping to organize<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>official<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>passes<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>Indian<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>Republic<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>Day<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>Parade<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>on<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>Jan<span style="letter-spacing:-.3pt">
</span>26<sup>th</sup>.<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>This<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>will<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>enable<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>you<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>fly to New Delhi, watch the Republic Day gala, and then join us at the Doctoral Colloquium in Mumbai.<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>We<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>will limit<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>your<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>participation<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>in the<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>Colloquium to 1-2 days, to give<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>you<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span>time<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span>visit ancient heritage sites near Mumbai on optional trips and help arrange visits to other places of
<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">interest.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="mso-margin-top-alt:8.85pt;margin-right:8.2pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:97%">
For both the conference and the colloquium, we plan to appoint a reputable travel agency that will allow<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>you<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>book<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>optional<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>tours<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>explore<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>India.<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>Your<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>participation<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> as a speaker/mentor
</span>will<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>tremendously<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>impact<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>IE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.1pt">discipline<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>India<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>by<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>working<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>with<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>Industrial<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>Engineering<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>academics<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>future<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>faculty.<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>It<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>will<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span>also<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt">
</span>allow you to make new contacts, and you will have an opportunity to explore the country. If you are<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText">interested<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>able<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span>participate,<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt"> </span>please<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>email<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> </span>one<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt">
</span>of<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>us<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>at <a href="mailto:bidanda@pitt.edu"><span style="color:#0462C1">bidanda@pitt.edu</span></a><u><span style="color:#0462C1;letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span></u><a href="mailto:/mkt09@hotmail.com"><span style="color:#0462C1">/mkt09@hotmail.com</span></a><span style="color:#0462C1;letter-spacing:2.0pt">
</span>or call at +14124147000.<span style="letter-spacing:2.0pt"> </span>We will send you a formal letter of invitation and provide you with additional<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.05pt">details<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">
</span>as<span style="letter-spacing:-.05pt"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">needed.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:.1pt"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Warmly</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><img border="0" width="175" height="73" style="width:1.825in;height:.7583in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.png@01D9EA03.AD16BBD0" alt="A black and white image of a swirly line Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">
<span style="position:relative;top:-13.5pt;mso-text-raise:13.5pt"><img border="0" width="80" height="46" style="width:.8333in;height:.4833in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D9EA03.AD16BBD0"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.9pt">Bopaya<span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">
</span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Bidanda</span> Manoj<span style="letter-spacing:-.3pt">
</span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Tiwari</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.05pt">Ernest<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span>Roth<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing:2.15pt">
</span>Professor<span style="letter-spacing:-.25pt"> </span>Industrial<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">
</span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Engineering</span>
<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Director,</span><span style="letter-spacing:1.2pt">
</span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">NITIE/IIM-Mumbai</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#323E4F">Bopaya Bidanda</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Ernest Roth Professor of Industrial Engineering<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Past President, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE)</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Professor of Business Administration (courtesy)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222A35">Department of Industrial Engineering</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#222A35">1025 Benedum Hall | 3700 O’Hara Street | Pittsburgh PA 15261</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#222A35">P: 412 624-9830 | F: 412 624-9831 | <a href="mailto:bidanda@pitt.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">bidanda@pitt.edu</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="198" height="52" style="width:2.0666in;height:.5416in" id="x_Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D9EA03.AD16BBD0"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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