On February 24, 2024, Mysore witnessed the inauguration of 'Karnata,' a research center dedicated to Classical Kannada studies (a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India).

Prof. H.V. Nagaraja Rao, a former fellow of IIAS' "A Lasting Vision: Dandin’s Mirror in the World of Asian Letters" research group, emphasized the center's importance in preserving Kannada heritage. Joined by scholars like Prof. Gil Ben-Herut, the event highlighted the cultural richness of Kannada literature.

In a scientific journey evoking the popular concept of "Jurassic Park," Bioarchaeologist Prof. Guy Bar-Oz (Department of Archaeology, University of Haifa), a member of the "Desert Sea Connectivity: Arid-Zone Food Security and Climate Change in Late Antiquity" Research Group at The Israel institute for Advanced Studies, alongside fellow researchers, Prof. Gideon Avni (Head of the Archaeological Division at the Israel Antiquities Authority) and Prof. Gil Gambash (School of Archeology & Maritime Cultures, University of Haifa), embarked on an extraordinary archaeological endeavour.