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.

Mumbai’s Unquenchable Thirst: Overestimating Water Demand to Justify Dams

Sachin Tiwale Question Of Cities | March 22, 2024 Water to the city has been supplied from seven dams, constructed in the neighbouring rural and forested areas, at great socio-economic and environmental costs. More such capital-intensive projects are being planned. But does Mumbai really need these projects? The answer, surprising to many, is in the […]

Behind the Biodiversity in the Western Ghats

Seshadri K. S. Deccan Herald | March 19, 2024 The Western Ghats (WG), which run along the west coast of India, are one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots. Most life forms here are endemic to the region and found nowhere else on Earth. The Western Ghats sustain millions of people who are directly or indirectly […]

Renewable energy projects must do more to safeguard India’s natural ecosystems

Sanjana Nair,  Abi T. Vanak  Land and Climate Review | 13 March, 2024 In 2018, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was honoured with the United Nations’ Champions of the Earth Award for leadership on climate action and environmental protection. A key factor behind this decision was the Prime Minister’s ambition to decarbonise India’s […]

Snailing with Friends: Exploring the Fascinating World of Snails

Nipu Kumar Das Science Reporter | March 5, 2024 It was on a wintery morning that I got off the flight in my hometown in Assam and took a deep breath. It felt good to be home. I had returned after more than a year. During that time, I had enrolled in a PhD programme […]

How Green Is The Green Credit Programme?

Anuja Malhotra, Abi Tamim Vanak Frontline – The Hindu | February 24, 2024 It aims to boost forest cover by rewarding tree planting, but plans tailored to local ecology and socioeconomic realities are crucial for true impact.

Bengaluru’S Riot Of Colours: A Call For Sustainable Urban Forestry

R. Ganesan, Namratha Murali Hindustan Times | February 20, 2024 After every shedding cycle, deciduous trees invest resources in producing new foliage and flowers, drawing nutrients from the soil, while simultaneously drawing groundwater. Burning litter deprives the soil of the nutrients needed by these trees, leading to a gradual decline in soil fertility. Furthermore, burning […]

Go Hiking, But Be Mindful of Nature

Seshadri K. S. Deccan Herald | February 16, 2024 The Western Ghats are renowned for their scenic beauty and have been identified as an important global biodiversity hotspot. In this context, the recent viral footage of nearly 500 trekkers thronging the Kumara Parvatha peak in Karnataka was shocking. The Kumara Parvatha is a challenging trek […]

Rising Tides, Rooted Solutions

Priya Ranganathan Mongabay | February 2, 2024 Mangroves have multiple ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, protection against wind and waves, fisheries and habitat for biodiversity. However, India’s coastal cities have lost large swathes of mangrove cover, leaving them vulnerable to sea level rise, flood events, storm surges and cyclones. Maintaining existing stands is […]

Discovery Of A New Species Of Kangaroo Lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Agasthyagama) From The Southern Western Ghats Of India.

Sandeep Das, Saunak Pal, Surya Narayanan, K. Subin, Muhamed Jafer Palot, K. P. Rajkumar, V. Deepak Vertebrate Zoology | January 30, 2024 A new species of Kangaroo Lizard has been discovered from Kerala part of Southern Western Ghats. The species is named Agasthyagama Edge after the prestigious EDGE program (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangere). The new species is distinguished from its sister species Agasthyagama beddomii by a combination […]