For our first episode, let us welcome Dr. Mehreen Khaleel, a primatologist leading community-level biodiversity conservation in her native Jammu and Kashmir. Join Dr Mehreen on her exciting journey from researching the behaviour of  Himalayan Langurs to creating a conservation NGO Wildlife Research and Conservation Foundation(WRCF) in Jammu and Kashmir. She elaborates on how she built community participation in biodiversity research, education and conservation in J & K. She also underlines the difficulties she faced during the initial days of her NGO venture.

EP 01 with Dr. Mehreen Khaleel | Starting the Conversation about Conservation

For our second podcast episode, let us welcome Dr. Kalloli Dutta, an Assam-based landscape ecologist and conservationist. Opening up on her wide-ranging career spanning landscape ecology, community conservation and environmental consultation, Dr. Kalloli recounts her roller-coaster journey as a conservationist.

EP 02 with Kalloli Dutta | Integrating Communities in Conservation

In this episode, join multitalented development professional Deepika Chetri as she takes us through her exciting journey, from being a corporate writer to having the calling to return to Northeast India and her work with tribal communities in Assam. 
Deepika provides insights into the need to consider the social aspects of any environmental projects and delves into the ecotourism scenario in Assam.

EP 03 with Deepika Chettri | Stories that Drive Positive Change

For People of Nature Episode 04, join Conservation Researcher Vidhi Modi as she narrates about her journey from being an avid bird watcher to studying the impact of modern infrastructure on wildlife. She reiterates her belief on how conservation is not just her study topic but also a way of living. 

In the episode. she explains how infrastructure projects should be planned to minimise negative effects on wildlife. She also gives career advice to aspiring ecologists in this podcast.

EP 04 with Vidhi Modi | Saving the Birds of the Grasslands

For E05, Welcome Adyasha Nayak, A community conservation PhD scholar from Orissa. In this episode, Adyasha elaborates on the importance of trying out different jobs until you find something right. 

They also elaborate on the intricacies of human-wildlife conflict, ecotourism and the gender-specific challenges in conservation. Adyasha also speaks about breaking the dichotomy of binary genders. Adyasha is confident of making a positive impact in the conservation world.

EP 05 Adyasha Nayak | Finding Your Path In Conservation As Part Of LGBTQ Community

EP06 with Dr.Meena Venkataraman- The Woman with a Lion’s share in Indian Mammal Conservation
For Episode 6 of our podcast, we have with us Dr Meena Venkataraman, a wildlife biologist with two decades of experience working with mammals, especially Asiatic lions.
🦁 Through her organization, Carnivore Conservation and Research, she's deeply involved in the study and conservation of Asiatic Lions. Check out her work here: https://core-carnivore.com/ 
🐾Join in as she reflects on her long journey as a mammal researcher. She dwells on being the only woman in a male-dominated wildlife team at Gir and how she became a trailblazer for female Forest Officers today.  
✳️She also shares her opinions on the crucial role local communities play in wildlife conservation. She also provides insights on wildlife management and wildlife conservation funding scenarios in India.

Ep 06 with Dr. Meena Venkataraman-The Woman with a Lion's Share in  Indian Mammal Conservation

People of Nature Podcast Episode 07 "A conversation with a Firebrand Female Conservationist"                                                                                           

For E07, Listen to Arunima, a Fire Brand bringing together women in forest fire fighting! 

Arunima talks about her varied experiences working with Women of Garhwal Himalayas and how they are taking lead in forest conservation. 

Arunima shares some secrets of the community and underlines the role of gender in conservation!

Listen to Arunima's story on the People of Nature Podcast now on 

SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/bvWBrh9iBh8WJqS19  

YouTube https://youtu.be/_mH5Cy7A7Xk

#communityconservation #forestfire #firefighting #womeninconservation #womeninforest #citizenscience #togetherwecan #peopleofnature #ibsoutreachgrant #indiabioscience #mitwpu #chaturullulab

EP 07 With Arunima - A Conversation With A Firebrand Female Conservationist

People of Nature Podcast EP 08
A Day in the Life of a Forester with Divya Bharathi IFS

Listen to the incredible story of Smt. Divya Bharathi as a Deputy Conservator of Forests at Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. 

Living her childhood dream of being in forests, Divya enjoys managing one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country. 

Listen to how she is switching to a systems conservationist from species specific conservation with her involvement in research and documentation of lesser known fauna with the help of her fantastic staff.

EP 08 with Divya Bharathi IFS - A Day in the Life of a Lady Conservator

People of Nature Podcast EP 09
Cloudy with a chance of owls with Debangini Ray

Listen to the amazing story of Debangini as an interdisciplinary ecologist emphasizing multidisciplinary nature of conservation science, working as a Senior Outreach Coordinator, Marine Flagship Project, Dakshin Foundation as well as pursuing her PhD from MIT-WPU Pune.

Getting inspired from her parents and the intricate connection she developed with nature as a child, Debangini now works full time in the conservation landscape.
 
Tune in to know how her work touches communities, seascape, landscape, nightscape, and involves rigorous studies in human perception of owls.

EP 09 with Debangini Ray | Cloudy with a Chance of Owls

Dr. Ishtiyak is a leading researcher in forest conservation working towards sustainable forest resource use in the Kashmir Himalayas. 

Through his several projects he demonstrates that it is possible to lead successful conservation action in remotest areas with harsh climate, working in rugged terrain! 

Listen to his story of bringing together the youth of Kashmir, forest department, and several government agencies for conservation of the HImalayan flora.

EP 10 with Dr. Ishtiyak | Uniting Youth for Action to Safeguard Kashmir's Flora

People of Nature Podcast EP 11
Many Tiny Hands for Rejuvenating Rivers
 
Sneha Shahi is a young river conservationist who has been instrumental in rejuvenating Bhukhi stream, inhabited by crocodiles,  in Vadodara with UG student participation. 

Working as a Plastic campaign advocate for UNEP, Sneha is currently pursuing her PhD at ATREE, Bengaluru. 

Listen to her story on stream and river conservation through peoples’ participation, challenges she faced, and the outcome she is fighting for!

EP 11 with Sneha Shahi | Many Tiny Hands for River Conservation

Sobiya Syeed, researches on Kashmir’s tiny fauna including butterflies, moths and odonates (dragonflies & damselflies) and has been instrumental in bringing youth together for conservation action. 

Sobiya belongs to an area which is still considered conserved for women & has seen conflict & violence from decades, yet today she stands tall to spread conservation optimism through her story.

Sobiya has been leading several initiatives in Kashmir Himalayas being a part of IUCN SSC and involved in various programs including those of UNDP, World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), Entomological Society of India (ESI), and International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF).

Let us hear her story of struggle and survival and bringing together folks who care for insects! 

Listen now!!!

EP 12 with Sobiya | Wings of Optimism: Conserving Insects in Kashmir Himalayas

Prachi Hatkar is a certified scuba diver who is actively working on Dugong conservation at the Gulf of Kutch. Prachi talks about her journey on how she chose the sea for her research work. 

As the first Indian woman to receive an international grant for diving certification from the Women Divers Hall of Fame, Prachi is breaking barriers in the field. 

Engaged in numerous outreach activities for marine conservation, Prachi is one of the few women scientists who are actively working towards marine conservation in India!

Listen to her story!

EP 14 with Prachi Hatkar | Dive of Faith for Marine Conservation

Anand Pendharkar, CEO of SPROUTS and Founder Director of SPROUTS Environment Trust, is a leading voice in conservation. 

Anand in his 30+ years of conservation career has mentored numerous students and has contributed extensively to research and conservation activism, especially in the Aarey Forest Movement. 

Listen to Anand’s journey and struggle as an openly gay person striving hard to make a mark in India’s conservation history. Let’s celebrate his conservation optimism by listening to this episode.

Episode 15 with Anand | Immerse into Nature & Embrace Yourself

Aarini Ghosh, a bioacoustics researcher, takes us on a journey into the soundscape of the forests of Meghalaya. Aarini has discovered three new species of Crickets to science through her bioacoustics research.  

Aarini narrates her ups and downs in the fieldwork at Meghalaya, being a queer person and working at nights to capture nocturnal sound diversity. 

Aarini is a PhD Scholar at Ashoka University and studies sound diversity and evolution in the subtropical forests of Meghalaya! Listen to her incredible story!

Episode 16 with Aarini Ghosh | Close Your Eyes and Listen to the Forest

Join Chinmaya on an epic journey as she explores marine habitats, tackles the challenges faced by the endangered dugong, and navigates the hurdles of being a female researcher in the testing marine conservation field. 

Chinmaya is a Scientist-C at the Wildlife Institute of India.                                           
Hear her thrilling diving experiences and insights into ocean conservation. 

Listen to her oceanic adventure now!

Episode 17 with Chinmaya Ghanekar | Diving into the Marine Conservation


🔊 Listen to Dr. Oishimaya as she navigates us through her journey as a conservation writer. 

🦋 Switching her formal career in neuroscience to conservation, she presently explores stories from grassroots and bring them to public! 

🌸 Oishi works as a Senior Editor at WorldAtlas and actively engaged in writing. 

Episode released on,
SoundCloud:
YouTube: 

#peopleofnature #podcast #womeninconservation #indiabioscience #outreach #mitwpu #chaturullulab #writer #stories #grassroot #tribal

Episode 18 with Dr.Oishimaya Sen Nag- Conservation Stories from the Indian Wilderness

Dr. Shalini Dhyani, Principal Scientist at CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our podcast. 

As the Asia Vice Chair and a Steering Committee member in the Commission on Ecosystems Management of IUCN, and a Visiting Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF, Indonesia, she is a true trailblazer in the field of environmental science.

In this episode, Dr. Shalini shares her inspiring journey, delves into her groundbreaking research, and discusses the vital interlinkages between socio-ecological systems.

She emphasizes the importance of diverse knowledge systems and sustainability science approaches for ecosystem health assessments. 

Dr. Shalini also sheds light on the significance of implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) to address pressing environmental challenges. From her perspective on environmental legislation to the pivotal role of everyday individuals in conservation efforts, this episode is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.

Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation with one of the leading voices in environmental science! Tune in now to "People of Nature" and embark on a journey towards a sustainable future.

Episode 19 with Dr. Shalini Dhyani | Ecosystem Health Approach for Effective Conservation

We are thrilled to announce the release of the latest episode of "People of Nature" featuring Ishita Mathur!

Ishita works as a PhD Scholar researching the agroecological transformations in the biodiverse Northeast Indian landscape, focusing on adoption of sustainable agroforestry practices by the indigenous tribal communities.

Her present work involves use of Remote Sensing & GIS techniques for mapping shifting cultivation systems, agroforestry, and community engagement in natural resource management. 

In this episode, Ishita shares her journey working with tribal communities and understanding the dynamics of shifting cultivation agrosystems in Tripura.

She emphasizes the importance of indigenous knowledge which can help in sustainable development and natural resource management.

Ishita discusses challenges she faced in the field and how she overcame them.

Don't miss out on this captivating conversation with Ishita Mathur! Tune in now to "People of Nature" and embark on a journey towards a sustainable agriculture.

Episode 20 with Ishita Mathur | Agroecological Transformations in the Biodiverse Northeast India

Dr. Shruti Kulkarni is an Environmental Educator and Consultant for the Directorate of School Education, Kohima, Nagaland. 

In this episode, Dr. Kulkarni shares her inspiring journey as a field researcher, where she’s done extensive research on butterflies and birds. 

In this episode, she dives into the crucial role of tribal communities in preserving traditional knowledge and highlights the transformative power of environmental education in making our world a better place.

Tune in now to be inspired by her passion for the environment and learn how education can create lasting change.

Episode 21 with Dr. Shruti Kulkarni | Butterflies in my stomach, Conservation in my mind!

Listen to the incredible relation between people and nature and how it translates into conservation action from the Lead Social Psychologist at WCT, Prachi Paranjpye. 

Prachi talks about her journey of switching from traditional social psychology to conservation psychology. She narrates challenges she faced and how she overcame them. 

As a part of the conservation behavior team at WCT, Prachi tries to understand the perception people have with the forest. She further narrates stories from her extensive study on forest guards. 

Listen to the in-depth discussion and let us know how lost you are in the forest!

Episode 22 with Prachi Paranjpye | Mind in Forest, Forest in Mind!

कोकणातल्या कातळ सड्यांवर येणाऱ्या विविध वनस्पती, त्यांचा उपयोग आणि सड्यांचे वैशिष्ठ्य जाणून घेण्यासाठी ऐका “निसर्गाच्या वल्ली” पॉडकास्ट भाग २३. 

डॉ. अपर्णा वाटवे या सुप्रसिध्द वनस्पती-तज्ञ मागील २० हून अधिक वर्षे कोकण भागातील कातळ-सड्यांवरच्या वनस्पतींचा अभ्यास करत आहेत. डॉ. वाटवे मॅडम या भागात त्यांच्या एकूण प्रवासाविषयी, सड्यांच्या सद्यस्थितीबद्दल, तसेच महाराष्ट्रातील पर्यावरणीय प्रश्नांवर तोडगा काढण्यासाठी काय करता येईल याबद्द्ल माहिती सांगत आहेत. 

---
EP 23 with Dr. Aparna Watve | Lateritic Plateaus Calling

Listen about the current condition of lateritic plateaus as one of the critically endangered habitats in the Northern Western Ghats as Dr. Aparna Watve narrates her work story. 

Immerse in the know-how, peoples’ connections, and participation in conservation.

भाग २३ । कातळ-सड्यांचे गाऱ्हाणे । वक्ते: डॉ. अपर्णा वाटवे

Join us to immerse yourself in environmental careers outside academia and get to know the industry viewpoint towards environmental conservation. 

Dr. Meenakshi Singh, CEO of Sustaina Greens, a Vadodara-based environmental consultancy, talks about her journey of transitioning from academia to environmental entrepreneurship. She discusses challenges and opportunities working with industry giants. 

From quitting her academic job into taking a leap of faith into starting her own firm, Dr. Meenakshi shares what matters the most when it comes to shaping your career!

Listen to her story!!!

Episode 24 with Dr. Meenakshi Singh | Green Careers Outside Academia

✨🎨 How to capture the magic of art to inspire a connection with our wilderness and promote conservation awareness?🤔

🍀🎨 Our podcast guest Sangeetha Kadur, one of India’s foremost nature artists, will answer this and more.

👣🐯 Join Sangeetha on a captivating journey as she recounts her first big opportunity, her most cherished wildlife artwork and the thrilling experience of designing nature interpretation centres in the Eastern Ghats.

🐝🦅 See how she channelled her love for insects and birds into amazing art!

💎 She also shares pearls of wisdom about the process behind creating any nature artwork.
🗒️🐞 Learn how even you can get involved in nature art through the simple  but pleasurable practice of nature journaling!

Episode 25 with Sangeetha Kadur| Picture Perfect: Inspiring conservation through Nature Art

Dear All, we are excited to launch the  “People of Nature” Podcast.
We are a podcast that aims to bring forth unheard voices from the Indian Conservation Landscape!
Come listen to positive stories from some of India’s finest conservationists here! 
Our podcast is an awardee of the 4th IndiaBioscience Science Communication Grants 2023.

People of Nature Podcast

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