Five-Day Residential Program on Rainforest Ecology

23rd to 27th Dec 2024 (Mon-Fri)
Explore the Secrets of the Western Ghats
@Kalinga Mane, Agumbe
Join us for a five-day journey into one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions—the Western Ghats. This comprehensive residential program offers a blend of scientific discovery, practical skills, and indigenous knowledge, designed to give students an in-depth understanding of rainforest ecosystems, sustainable practices, and conservation strategies.

Program Highlights

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Climate Change Impacts:
    Understand the impacts of climate change on rainforests and their biodiversity.
  • Evolutionary Processes:
    Explore the role of evolution in shaping rainforest ecosystems.
  • Aquatic Ecosystems and Microbial roles
    Investigate the importance of aquatic ecosystems and microbial diversity.
  • Indigenous Knowledge:
    Learn from indigenous knowledge and apply it to conservation.
  • Conservation and Research Techniques:
    Develop practical skills in ecological research and conservation.

Each day will be filled with exciting activities, including rainforest exploration, birdwatching, herping, hands-on lab experiments, documentary reviews, interacting with researchers, and plenty of fun!

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the program, you will have:

  • Increased your understanding of rainforest ecosystems and their importance.
  • Developed skills in ecological research and conservation.
  • Enhanced appreciation for indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices.
  • Inspired to become active advocates for rainforest conservation.

Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for students above 7th grade up to 12th grade with an interest and curiosity to explore environmental science, biology, or ecology.

Dr P Gowri Shankar

Course Director

 Herpetologist, TEDx Speaker, TEDFellow 2020

Gowri Shankar is a wildlife biologist working on king cobras for close to two decades.

He has been featured in several wildlife documentaries on channels like the BBC, Discovery, NatGeo Wild, Animal Planet, Smithsonian and National Geographic Channel.

He completed his PhD at North Orissa University and a former exchange student at Uppsala University, Sweden.

He was awarded the herpetologist of the year-2015 by the Swedish Herpetological Society.

Priyanka Swamy

PhD student, University of Mysore

Priyanka has diverse experience across ecological field and laboratory work. As part of the Phylogeography of king cobras project, she has travelled to king cobra habitats across the world and has experience with phylogenetic and population genetics tools to understand evolutionary and biogeography patterns and assist conservation prioritisation. She has also addressed questions related to diversity pattern, population structure and drivers of diversification of the Ranids of the Western Ghats and other herpetofauna.

An excellent environment educator, she has co-conducted a wide range of outreach programs for diverse audiences from school and college students, to forest officials, researchers, and enthusiasts.

She is now embarking on her PhD project on Malabar pit vipers which will mark the beginning of a topic long-awaited to be discovered.

DETAILS

Dates: 23rd to 27th Dec 2024 (Mon-Fri)

Venue:  Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology, Agumbe

COST

Rs.28,600/-

INCLUDES:

  • Pickup drop to Bangalore with an escort from KSRTC bus stand. 
  • Accommodation in tents on a sharable basis.    
  • All meals (Veg/non-veg) and beverages   
  • Program charges, stationary and
    Education materials.

EXCLUDES: Personal expenses. Travel to and from Agumbe.

Participation certificate awarded on completing the course.

REGISTER

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