Listen to Unheard Voices from India’s Conservation Landscape
Join us for engaging discussions about the environment & our connection to nature.
Meet our speakers who are doing pioneering work in conservation
Our goal is to educate & inspire our listeners.
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Join our community, where you can share ideas & engage in meaningful conversations about important environmental issues.
About Us
The People of Nature Podcast is a science communication initiative funded by the 4th IndiaBioScience Outreach Grants 2023.
We invite speakers from minorities and economically backward classes to tell their own life stories brimming with conservation optimism.
Our speakers are scientists, educators and conservationists coming from largely sidelined communities including tribal folk, women and transgender wildlife biologists, as well as those from economically backward classes.
The podcast will inspire the young generation to take up conservation as a career, consider environmental issues seriously and appreciate the work of the unnamed heroes who work towards achieving a better planet irrespective of societal pressures and challenges.
Meet Nikhil Kuni
Nikhil has completed M.Sc in Zoology from Solapur University.
After his masters, he worked with Wildlife Institute of India as a project intern in the GIB-CAMPA project on assessing arthropod assemblage in Thar desert, Rajasthan. Further, he joined the Zoological Survey of India, Patna as a project fellow on a project studying moth & butterfly diversity in the North East India.
During his tenure he published significant literature on Nolidae members from India. He described five new species of spiders including highly significant grassland species viz. Palpimanus maldhok and Stenaelurillus Solapur.
Episode released on 15th November 2024
Meet Sangeetha Kadur
Sangeetha is a highly acclaimed wildlife and nature artist with a career spanning nearly two decades.
Her art emphasizes the significance of biodiversity and fosters pride in our natural heritage. In recent years, Sangeetha has stepped up to a curatorial role where she has led teams to build visual panels, installations and interactive designs that spread awareness about our incredible wildernesses.
Sangeetha’s passion for the environment led her to co-found ‘GreenScraps,’ a nature journaling workshop inspiring a new generation of nature artists. Through her art and initiatives, she strives to create wonder, admiration, and respect for the natural world.
Episode released on 30th September 2024
Meet Dr. Meenakshi Singh
With over 14 years of diverse experience, Dr. Meenakshi is a passionate expert in ESG, biodiversity, and sustainability. Meenakshi Ji, works as the CEO of Sustaina Greens, an ISO 9001:2015 certified GreenTech Consulting Firm based in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Her expertise span project management, corporate training, biodiversity assessments, and carbon sequestration studies.
Meenakshi Ji holds a PhD in Algal Biotechnology from the University of Rajasthan, with research focusing on ecological imbalance, biomass conversion, diatom diversity, and natural resource management.
Episode released on 30th September 2024
Meet Dr. Aparna Watve
Dr. Watve is a renowned ecologist and conservationist working on plants in the Northern Western Ghats, India.
She presently works as a coordinator with IUCN SSC Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group.
Dr. Watve has worked extensively at grassroot level advocating conservation, especially rocky outcrops of Konkan region.
This podcast was recorded in MARATHI in order to reach out to the local stakeholders.
Episode released on 15th September 2024
Meet Prachi Paranjpye
Prachi holds a master’s degree in Social Psychology from the Department of Applied Psychology, University of Mumbai. Her interest in understanding communities and group behaviour motivated her to study social psychology in greater depth.
As a part of the Conservation Behaviour team at WCT, Prachi uses unique insights from data and combines them with theories in social psychology to provide useful policy recommendations that intend to improve conservation outcomes.
Her work on improving work motivation of forest guards in tiger reserves as well as on improving energy access to communities has been fundamental in combining good data and social science to improving on-ground outcomes.
Episode released on 30th August 2024
Meet Shruti Kulkarni
Dr. Shuti Kulkarni works as Environment Consultant for Directorate of School Education, Kohima, Nagaland. She is involved in a project called NECTAR which is World Bank aided project in Kohima, Nagaland.
Shruti pursued her doctorate in the field of biodiversity. Her PhD topic was Study on Bioindicator Taxa such as birds and butterflies of Manoli reserve forest and Amba village of Kolhapur district in Maharashtra State.
She is part of the Global Organization WiNN (Women in Nature Network). Earlier I was Facilitator of Jagriti Digital Yatra. Shruti so far has delivered more than 50 talks regarding Environment, Education, biodiversity. She has four research papers to her credit.
Episode released on 20th August 2024
Meet 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.
She has completed her masters in Environmental Management from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi.
Ishita has worked for a short period on assessing human elephant conflict mitigation strategies and testing efficacy of early warning systems through Camera Trap data.
Her present work involves use of Remote Sensing & GIS techniques for mapping shifting cultivation systems, agroforestry, and community engagement in natural resource management.
Episode released on 10th August 2024
Meet Dr. Shalini Dhyani
Dr. Shalini works as a Principal Scientist, CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. She is Asia Vice Chair and Steering Committee member in the Commission on Ecosystems Management of IUCN. She is a Visiting Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF, Indonesia.
She has been the lead author of the IPBES global thematic assessment on the sustainable use of wild species and the Asia-Pacific regional assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
It needs no mention that Dr. Shalini has published many research papers, edited books, and popular articles on mainstreaming NbS in reducing biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, and disaster risks.
Episode released on 30th July 2024
Meet Dr. Oishimaya Sen Nag
Dr. Oishimaya Sen Nag is a conservation storyteller who travels across India, documenting stories about the Indian wilderness and local communities.
Oishi’s love for the Biological Sciences led her to complete her Ph.D. in the field of Biochemistry, where she worked on the molecular neuroscience of Parkinson’s Disease.
Oishi currently works as the Senior Editor of WorldAtlas and the Consulting Editor of the Travel and Environment magazine by Travellers’ World media company.
Episode released on 20th July 2024
Meet Chinmaya Ghanekar
Chinmaya is a marine biologist and a certified SCUBA diver with a keen interest in the interdisciplinary approaches to address marine biodiversity conservation.
Chinmaya completed her Ph.D. research, on Ecology of Seagrass associated fishes and Conservation Perspectives of Seagrass ecosystems in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar at WII while holding a masters degree in biodiversity from Pune University.
Her research interests revolve around ecological studies of lesser-known marine mammals, including dugongs, and humpback whales. Additionally, she is also studying current areas such as blue carbon assessment and the conflict between humans and wildlife in marine environments.
Episode released on 10th July 2024
Meet Aarini Ghosh
Aarini is a masters in Zoology and is currently pursuing her PhD from Ashoka University. For her PhD she studies song diversity and evolution, especially nocturnal song diversity in subtropical forests of Meghalaya, using bioacoustics.
Aarini has discovered three cricket species, belonging to the Genus Hexacentrus, previously unknown to science! Prior to her current engagement as a PhD scholar with Ashoka, Aarini has worked with IISER Kolkata and IISER Tirupati.
Episode released on 30th June 2024
Meet Anand Pendharkar
Anand Pendharkar is an Ecologist, Social Entrepreneur, Author of multiple books, Motivational & TEDx Speaker, Certified International Zoo Educator, Professional Teacher Trainer, and Visiting Faculty.
In 1995 he established the well-known Environment Consulting & Services company SPROUTS and is its CEO. SPROUTS is conducting different projects like butterfly gardens, terrace farms, documenting biodiversity as well as camps & treks for schools, colleges, housing colonies & villages.
He is also the Founder and Director of the associated Conservation NGO – SPROUTS Environment Trust (established in 2002).
Episode released on 20th June 2024
Meet Prachi Hatkar
Prachi is currently pursuing her PhD, at the Wildlife Institute of India focusing on Dugong conservation in the Gulf of Kutch.
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.
With a passion for marine life diversity assessment and conservation’s intersection with livelihoods, Prachi is a naturalist dedicated to conserving our marine ecosystems for future generations.
Episode released on 10th June 2024
Meet Sneha Dhwarwadkar
Sneha is a wildlife biologist, currently pursuing PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences.
She is a co-founder of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises Foundation (FFTF), that works on the research, education, and community conservation of the freshwater turtles and tortoises of India.
Listen to her on the various experiences she got working on the under-rated turtles & tortoises!
Episode streaming now!
Episode released on 30th May 2024
Meet Sobiya Syeed
Sobiya is a young conservationist working with communities on safeguarding insect fauna of Kashmir Himalayas!
Sobiya is a member of various national and international organizations such as IUCN, WCPA, ESI, and ISTF.
Sobiya belongs to an area which is still considered conserved for women & has seen conflict & violence from decades.
Listen to her story!
Episode released on 20th May 2024
Meet Sneha Shahi
Sneha 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!
Listen to her story!
Episode released on 10th May 2024
Meet Dr. Ishtiyak Ahmad
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 how he is bringing together the youth of Kashmir, forest department, and several government agencies for conservation of the Himalayan flora.
Listen to his story!
Episode released on 30th April 2024
Meet 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.
Listen to her story!
Episode released on 25th April 2024
Meet Divya Bharathi M., 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 her story!
Episode released on 20th April 2024
Meet Arunima
Working as a block coordinator with the Hans Foundation, Arunima talks about her varied experiences working with Women of Garhwal Himalayas and how they are taking lead in forest conservation.
Episode released on 31st March 2024
Meet Dr. Meena Venkataraman
With over 20+ years of experience working on big cats and other mammals, Dr. Meena is a leading wildlife biologist having extensively worked on Asiatic Lions of Gujarat.
Episode released on 16th March 2024
Meet Adyasha Naik
Adyasha Nayak is a researcher with the Wildlife Institute of India in Kaziranga National Park. Adyasha worked towards bridging the gap between local communities and conservation through ecotourism.
Episode released on 29th February 2024
Meet Vidhi Modi
Vidhi works as a Senior Research Fellow with Corbett Foundation at its Kutch division. Her work focuses on conservation of grasslands and their associated species.
Episode released on 15th February 2024
Meet Deepika Chhetri
Deepika Chhetri is a Development Professional. She has worked on different thematic areas – waste management, community mobilization, developing alternative livelihoods and developing rural enterprises. Tune in to our podcast to know more about her experience working with tribal communities of Assam.
Link in bio!
Episode released on 31st January 2024
Meet Dr. Kalloli Dutta
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.
Episode released on 15th January 2024
Meet Dr. Mehreen Khaleel
For our first episode, we welcome Dr. Mehreen Khaleel, a primatologist now leading community-level biodiversity conservation in her native Jammu and Kashmir.
Episode released on 30th December 2023.
Meet The Team
bringing the best to you from the field
Pankaj Koparde
Host
Pankaj is an evolutionary ecologist working as an Assistant Professor MIT-WPU, Pune. His core expertise is in Urban Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation, & Biodiversity Informatics. He loves to engage in conservation outreach.
Arjit Jere
Podcast Co-creator Content Writer
Arjit is an ecologist-turned-nature educator and science communicator. He uses science communication, particularly written articles & podcasts to spread awareness about India’s environmental issues & rich wildlife.
Mrunal Kulkarni
Illustrator & Social Media Manager
Mrunal is a biologist and science illustrator putting together her love for art and science to captivate people’s minds and make science accessible and enjoyable to all.