The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) and the CREST , Calicut have launched a series of Public Lectures from 2011 onwards to bring to the wider society the latest trends in social researches on issues concerning Indian and Global social reality. The Inaugural Lecture of the IIMK-CREST series was delivered at IIMK on March 8, 2011 by Dr.Thomas E. Weisskopf, Professor of Economics (Emeritus), University of Michigan, an internationally acclaimed economist and public intellectual who has written extensively on Indian and global themes. Delivering the lecture entitled ‘Rethinking Affirmative Action in Admission to Higher Education’, Prof. Weisskopf emphasized the importance of affirmative action like reservation for admission for disadvantaged groups in premier academic institutions of India as it is conducive for attaining decision making positions in job market. The Lecture series was inaugurated by Prof.Debashis Chattrejee, Director, IIMK. Prof.D.D.Nampoothiri , Executive Director, CREST welcomed the gathering and vote of thanks was proposed by Prof.Shubhasis Dey,Facuty, IIMK.