Paper Wasp: Facts, Nest, Colony

Femi E Benny , Diviya Mehra Round Glass Sustain |  May 27, 2024 Paper wasps, belong to subfamily Polistinae of the Vespidae family, are named for their remarkable ability to create nests using wood pulp. They construct these intricate structures, from a material made by combining their saliva with wood fibers sourced from dead wood, […]

To Fight Against the Enemy

Prasanna N S Vijay Karnataka Kannada Daily | May 20, 2024 The recent death of a woman in Kerala, due to suspected Oleander poisoning, has brought the toxic plants into the spotlight. Following this incident, two Devaswom boards in Kerala have prohibited the use of Nerium oleander flowers & leaves during temple ceremonies. Here, I […]

Conserving Wildlife Beyond Borders

Seshadri K. S. Deccan Herald | April 26, 2024 Protected areas (PAs) are a widespread method of conserving biodiversity globally. The definition of a PA and the level of protection vary widely. Typically, PAs are envisioned as inviolate areas designed to protect one or more charismatic species, such as the tiger or the elephant.

India’s Chipko Movement is a Model for Effective Activism

Prasanna N S, G. Ravikanth Nature |  April 25, 2024 The 50-year-old Chipko movement shows the power of collective action and the potential of community-driven efforts to raise environmental awareness and bring about policy changes (S. Mundoli Nature 627, 730–732; 2024). Grass-roots movements empower communities, foster a sense of ownership and instil a sense of […]

How Can Small-scale Farmers Benefit From Trees on Farms?

Deepthi R Shastry, Milind Bunyan, G. Ravikanth The Hindu |  April 18, 2024 The adoption of agroforestry at scale in India must include smallholders, who hold most of India’s agricultural land. Yet this is currently stymied by both ecological and socio-economic factors. Although secure land tenure is a prerequisite for agroforestry uptake, ensuring economic viability […]

Climate Change and Insects: We Don’t Know Enough

Femi E Benny Antenna | April 8, 2024 As temperatures rise, weather patterns shift, and habitats are altered, insects are facing a myriad of challenges that threaten their survival. Climate change and its effect on insects are complex and multifaceted, and while we have some understanding of their causes and effects, there is still much […]

How to Fix India’s Urban Water Crisis, From Bengaluru to Chennai and Beyond

Sachin Tiwale The Indian Express | March 28, 2024 Bengaluru is experiencing its worst water crisis in decades. The weak monsoon last year has compounded an already difficult situation caused by unregulated urban growth and depleting groundwater resources. Chennai too has experienced shortages in recent years. Several other Indian cities are under similar stress, indicating […]

Reimagining the Ring Around the Neigbourhood Lakes

Vardhini Suresh, Namratha Murali, M Soubadra Devy Deccan Herald |  March 28, 2024 In the early 90’s, during the IT boom, Bengaluru witnessed a seismic shift from a garden city to the Silicon Valley of India. The rapid urbanisation resulted in the depletion of green spaces within and around the city. The natural scrubby vegetation, […]

Why Scientists and Engineers Should Study Social Science

Sachin Tiwale Scroll | March 25, 2024 In fact, there are several social, economic, technical and ethical choices and considerations involved in the process of technological development. This process includes understanding the laws of nature, applying knowledge to a social problem that has been identified and designing a product to address the problem.