OUTREACH

I believe that biologists, especially evolutionary biologists and ecologists, should be committed to science education, conservation and public outreach beyond their research and class room duties. This is especially critical today when, depending on where you are, either the quality of science education needs much improvement or the environmental and biodiversity crises loom large; or, worse, the quality of science education needs much improvement and the environmental and biodiversity crises loom large, such as in India. Science, and scientists, cetainly have a role to play in resolving these matters. Here are some of the things that I have been involved in and the roles I have played:

Consultant (2002-2003): World Heritage Biodiversity Programme (WHBP) of Ministry of Environment and Forests (Govt. of India), executed by ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment) and funded by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The goal of WHBP was to identify potential natural sites in India, which were later to be considered for designation as United Nations World Heritage Sites.

Scientific Advisor (2009-present): Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust, Nilambur, India.

Popular science and natural history articles, books and other educational material:

Kunte, K. 2002. Eka Ranvedyachi Shodhayatra (“Quest of a Naturalist”, in Marathi). Rajhans Prakashan, Pune, India. The book describes my wildlife-related experiences as a young naturalist in a southern Indian forest. It was on a best-selling list, has won two literary awards, and is currently in its fifth printing. A chapter from this book is now part of the Marathi literature curriculum in elementary schools (grade 10th) in Maharashtra, India. Read more ...

Kunte, K. 2001. Phulapakharanchya Sangatit (“In the Company of Butterflies”): a free book in Marathi for children in underprivileged schools. Produced by World-wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India) Pune Division, under the India-Canada Environmental Facility. Read more ...

I have written over three dozen articles on Indian wildlife in Indian newspapers and wildlife magazines.

In 2002 I helped Life Research Foundation, Pune, India, produce two posters on butterflies as free educational material for children’s schools. The project was funded by Centre for Environment Education (CEE–Pune Division).

Nature Educator: I was invited by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India), Pune Division, to serve as nature educator in more than a dozen summer and winter nature education camps from 1992 to 1998. Many participants from these camps have since become professional ecologists, conservationists, nature educators, and activists working with forest tribal groups and their social and environmental issues. Between 1992 and 2002 I also presented over 50 nature- and wildlife-related slide-shows to educational institutions ranging from kindergarten schools to colleges.

If you are interested in teaming up on any nature educational or conservation projects in which we could use my expertise, skills and prior experience, please contact me.