Community Outreach

I am a Conservation Biologist. For effective conservation to happen, it is essential to understand the socio-economic status of people and ecology of the wildlife and the relationship between the two. We need to understand the importance of Traditional Ecological knowledge (TEK) and use it empower indigenous people for conservation.

Since 2011, I have been actively working with indigenous people within India to understand their socio-economic status and their relationship with the forest and its denizens.

Belize (May 2017, 2018, 2019),

Trinidad and Tobago (May 2018),

Costa Rica (May-June 2019):

I co-lead the trip to Belize, Trinidad, and Tobago, Costa Rica to create awareness about conservation issues in Tropics. Through these trips, we try to bring people closer to nature, appreciate the beauty of nature and thus laying the foundation stone for environmental awareness. Through these trips, I help Dr. Ragupathy Kannan help raise funds for Audubon Society.

Birds and Breakfast

I conduct the presentations on birds of Northwest Arkansas during Birds and Breakfast. Birds and breakfast is an initiative by a few graduate students in the UofA biology department to educate kids and adults alike on the beauty of birds and why we need to conserve them.

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School Workshops

I carry out workshops in schools with students of various age groups and aim at understanding their TEK. Through these workshops I try to ensure that the connection between a child and nature continues, the TEK and pride in Tradional Knowledge continues.

• Z.P. High School, CTM (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013):
• P.V.C Government High School, Vayalpad (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013)
• Sri Sharada EM High School (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013)

Rural Workshops

I have conducted several workshops in villages around the town of Madanapalle, Hyderabad on the importance of conservation and proper wildlife management practices. Through these workshops, I also aim at understanding their TEK.

• Rural Workshops (Winter 2012, 2016, Spring 2013, 2015, 2016; Summer 2013, 2015, 2016)

Snake Conservation Workshops

I have conducted several workshops in villages around Madanapalle, Bangalore, Hyderabad on the importance of snakes and why we need to conserve them.

• Snake Conservation Workshops (Winter 2012, 2016, Spring 2013, 2015, 2016; Summer 2013, 2015, 2016)

POPULAR MEDIA:

I was featured twice by University of Arkansas in Research Frontiers:

• Research Frontiers August 2018: Got featured in Research Frontier in in August post highlighting the research work done by me on Red Crossbills in Arkansas ().
• Research Frontiers October 2016: Got featured in Research Frontier in in October post highlighting the research work done by me for my dissertation ().

Radio Interview:

• KUAF 91.3, NPR (April 2017):Was invited for an interview on Elusive Red Crossbills in Arkansas. 

Short Documentaries (2017):

• Queen of the Forest: Discussing our study on effects of herbivory on Pentaclethra macroloba
• Invasive Plants: Coffee Dilemma: Part of the documentary featuring the study of coffee production and its impact on wildlife in Costa Rica.

Sound Cloud:

• Importance of Seedlings: Presented the research on growth of legumes and non-legume seedlings in Costa Rica.