Biodiversity for Everyone’s Life

Jointly organized by Miranda House, University of Delhi and Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur

Date: 31August 2018 Time: 9.00 am to 06.00 pm Venue: Auditorium, Miranda House, University of Delhi

Preamble

This Conclave aims to explore Biodiversity from a multifaceted perspective, from scientific understanding to its conservation and expansion. It will pose two important questions:

How do we make biodiversity an inseparable part of day-to-day life? How do we make biodiversity an integral part of every citizen’s conscious self?

India is proud to have some of the major hotspots of biodiversity in the world, particularly the N- E states in . Its health is important for sustainable development of the entire country. It also throws challenges as to how to keep the aspirations of the people of N-E fulfilled and at the same time, maintain and expand the biodiversity. Similar problems/issues affect other biodiversity hotspots in the country.

With increased human migration, exchange of living and non-living commodities across the globe, introduction of invasive species, new epidemic outbreaks, and more importantly the local and the global impact of climate change, we need to re-examine the dynamics of Earth's ecosystem from a newer perspective. An understanding of the Earth’s ecosystems and measures to sustain the health of the Earth for the future requires multi-disciplinary approaches. With the help of tools of big data analysis, foundations of planetary science and ecology and evolution, we may start identifying key factors that affect biodiversity and, thereby, ecosystem function and services. While multidisciplinary research is taken up to study ways to keep the living earth healthy for centuries to come, in parallel, we also need to develop school and university-level curriculum that incorporates these issues in the education system so that future citizens would be well trained to identify better solutions for sustainable and equitable development.

While research and education prepare us for a better future, equally important is identifying best possible ways to conserve biodiversity in our own lifetime. There is an urgent need to bring people from academia (science, engineering, medicine, social sciences and humanities, law etc), industry, politics, social service and all concerned citizens to identify immediate solution to mitigate the impact of climate change and identify ways to conserve biodiversity.

To discuss various possibilities derived from science, new social norms, new policies and outreach on the topics related to Biodiversity, Miranda House is privileged to host a brainstorming meeting on 31 August 2018.

Format The Biodiversity Conclave aims to bring together students, faculty, researchers and concerned citizens from across the city of Delhi. All sessions will be highly interactive. After a brief introduction to the theme by eminent invited speakers, the discussion will be thrown open. The programme will be webcast live on the Miranda House You Tube Channel.

The Conclave aims to sensitize and engage everyone to think about Biodiversity and its significance in their individual lives and surrondings. The all encompassing influence of our surroundings on our lives finds many expressions. Several lead up events are being organized to provide a participative and creative forum to students to express themselves.

Lead-Up Competitive Events

Quiz

THEME: JUNGLE JUNGLE BAAT CHALI HAIN Organized by: Jigyasa, the Quiz Society Date: 30 August 2018 Venue: First Prize: Rs. 5000 Second Prize: Rs. 3000 Third Prize: Rs. 2000

The Quiz aims to test and at the same time educate the participants on the topics of Biodiversity, Sustainable Development and the importance of Biodiversity in everyone’s life. This will definitely match up to the quality of those in the Delhi Quizzing Circuit.  Close to 50 teams comprising of two members each will take part in the Quiz.  Format of the Quiz:  Written Preliminary Round: 20 Questions  Finals: 4 Rounds; 50 Questions; 8 Teams in the Finals

Contact: [email protected] To view Poster: Click here

3-Minute Video/Powerpoint Presentation

THEME: BIODIVERSITY IN AND AROUND MY COLLEGE CAMPUS Organized by: MH Vatavaran First Prize: Rs. 5000 Second Prize: Rs. 3000 Third Prize: Rs. 2000

 The participants will be required to submit either a single short Video (maximum 3 minutes) or a single PowerPoint Presentation (maximum 10 slides).  Entries received till 27 AUGUST 2018 will be considered.  The shortlisted participants (5-6) will be called on a selected date before 31 AUGUST 2018 to present their video or PowerPoint Presentation before the judges.  The participants will be judged on the basis of their Content, Creativity and Presentation.  Best entries among all will be played during the event on 31 August.

Contact: [email protected] To view Poster: Click here

Photography

THEME: BIODIVERSITY IN EVERYONE’S LIFE Organized by: Snapshots, Photography Club, Miranda House First Prize: Rs. 5000 Second Prize: Rs. 3000 Third Prize: Rs. 2000

 This is an Online Competition where two rounds will be conducted.  First Round:  Participants will be required to submit only one entry on the theme Biodiversity in Everyone’s Life.  Last day of Entry will be 25 August 2018.  Second Round:  Shortlisted participants will be required to submit only one Online entry on the theme Sustainable Development in Today’s Life.  Last day of Entry will be 28 August 2018.  The participants will be judged on the basis of their Content, Creativity and Composition.  Best entries among all will be displayed during the event on 31 August.

Contact: [email protected] To view Poster: Click here

Digital Poster Making

THEME: BIODIVERSITY THROUGH THE LENS OF PEOPLE Organized by: Snapshots, Photography Club, Miranda House First Prize: Rs. 5000 Second Prize: Rs. 3000 Third Prize: Rs. 2000

 This is an Online Competition. Participants will be required to submit only one entry on the theme Biodiversity Through the lens of People.  Last day of Entry will be 26 August 2018.  The participants will be judged on the basis of their Content, Creativity and Composition.  Best entries among all will be displayed during the event on 31 August.

Contact: [email protected] To view Poster: Click here

Art

THEME: THE MERGNG GREEN – TRANSLATING NATURE INTO CULTURE AND ART Organized by: Adwitiya, Fine Arts Society, Miranda House First Prize: Rs. 5000 Second Prize: Rs. 3000 Third Prize: Rs. 2000

 Participants will be required to submit only one entry on the given theme.  Initial selection on basis of online submission of art work  This will be an Onsite Painting Event conducted on 30 August 2018 at 2 pm for maximum duration of 4 hours in the Student Activity Centre.  Participants will be provided with a Canvas Board of Size 12 inch x16 inch. They can also bring their own canvas of any size.  The competition involves the use of only Acrylic or Oil Colours. Participants will be required to bring their own colours and brushes.  The Entries will be judged on the basis of their Content, Creativity and Composition.  Best entries among all will be displayed during the event on 31 August.

Contact: [email protected] To view Poster: Click here

Event Posters

Exhibitions

 HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION (HESCO): Innovative Products Developed by HESCO

 RAINBOW IN FLIGHT: A Gallery of photographs of Birds on Banks of Yamuna by Shruti Sharma

 ART INSTALLATIONS: By Adwitiya, the Fine Arts Society of Miranda House

 THROUGH THE LENS: By Snapshots, the Photography Society of Miranda House

Registration Fee For All: Rs. 200 Online Fee Payment

Registration Form Students :http://soft.mirandahouse.in/studentregistrationbio.php Faculty and Others http://soft.mirandahouse.in/facregistrationbiodiversity.php Duly filed appended/linked form may be emailed to [email protected]

Further details Website: www.mirandahouse.ac.in Email: [email protected]

Programme Schedule Friday, 31 August 2018

09.00 am to 09.30 am Registration

09.30 am to 11.30 am Inaugural Session 09.30 am to 09.40 am Invocation

09.40 am to 09.50 am Welcome Dr Pratibha Jolly Principal, Miranda House 09.50 am to 10.00 am Introduction: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Professor L. S. Shashidhara Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune 10.00 am to 10.10 am Introduction: Biodiversity for Everyone Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo Director, Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur 10.10 am to 10.20 am Biodiversity Through the Lens of Art and Science Felicitating Winners of Competitions Quiz, Art, Photography, Short Video, Poster Design, … 10.20 am to 10.55 am Address by Chief Guest Professor K. Vijayraghavan Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt. of India 10.55 am to 11.00 am Closure

11.00 am to 11.30 am High Tea

11.30 pm to 12.15 pm Plenary Address Biodiversity and Human Survival Professor C. R. Babu Professor Emeritus, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi 12.15 am to 12.45 pm Biodiversity Through Music Professor Ricky Kej Indian Music Composer and Conservationist National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru 12.45 pm to 01.15 pm Biodiversity Through Photographic Lens Mr. Raghu Rai Renowned Photographer

01.15 pm to 02.00 pm Lunch

02.00 pm to 03.15 pm Panel 1: Science of Biodiversity Science of Biodiversity Chairperson: Professor L.S. Shashidhara Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Biodiversity: Research, Recreation and Conservation Professor Ramana Athreya Astronomer & Ecologist Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune बिन वन सि सनू Dr. Anil Joshi Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), Dehradun Interactive Session

03.15 pm to 03.30 pm Tea

03.30 pm to 04.30 pm Panel 2: Governance, Law and People’s Movements How to Protect Forests and Wildlife: A Historical Perspective Chairperson: Professor Mahesh Rangarajan Environmental Studies & History; and Dean of Academic Affairs, Ashoka University Policy, Law and Adherence Mr. Abani Kumar Sahu Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India Interactive Session

04.30 pm to 05.30 pm Panel 3: Biodiversity: My Life, My Perspective Chairperson: Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo Director, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Manipur

Biodiversity for People: Challenges and Achievements Mr. Chetan Chauhan Senior Associate Editor, Hindustan Times How I Learnt to Love Biodiversity Dr. Rahul Ram Environmentalist, Social Activist and Musician, Indian Ocean Interactive Session

Speaker Profiles

Professor K. Vijayraghavan

Prof. K. Vijayraghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India since March 2018, is Distinguished Professor and former Director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). He also served as Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, India. Prof. Vijayraghavan’s fields of specialization are developmental biology, genetics and neurogenetics. He joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1988 and was instrumental in founding the NCBS at in 1992 under the aegis of TIFR. He received the prestigious Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology awarded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1998. Conferred the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013, Prof. Vijayraghavan is also a recipient of the Infosys Prize in the Life Sciences category in 2009. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2012 and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2014.

Professor L.S. Shashidhara

Professor L.S. Shashidhara is Professor and Chair of Biology at Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. He heads the LSS Laboratory at IISER and is a developmental biologist and geneticist of international repute. After completing PhD and post-doctoral research in Cambridge University, UK, Prof. Shashidhara joined the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) Bangalore. He later moved to Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Hyderabad, from where he is currently on deputation to IISER, Pune. He is a J. C. Bose National Fellow of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and elected Fellow of several august scientific bodies of India. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology 2008, for his contributions to biological sciences. He is also visiting faculty at Ashoka University, Sonepat, India.

Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo

Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is well-known for his contributions in the field of bioresources and sustainable development. Prof. Sahoo has the distinction of being the first Indian student to visit Antarctica in the year 1987-88, as part of the team which laid the foundation for India's permanent station, Maitri. In 1987-88, Prof. Sahoo also travelled to all 7 continents and 5 oceans within a record time of 18 months. Dr. Sahoo has worked as a Fellow at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, USA. He was also instrumental in launching India's First Cherry Blossom Festival for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development. Besides publishing papers in international journals, he has published 11 books and produced 2 documentary films. He has also received the India Leadership Award in the field of Sustainable Development.

Professor Ricky Kej

Ricky Kej, composer, music producer and conservationist, won a Grammy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015 for his album Winds of Samsara, made in collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, in the Best New Age Album category. His album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched on November 30, 2015 at the 2015 Climate Change Conference by Indian Prime Minister and the then French President, Francois Hollande. In the months since its launch, Kej has travelled widely speaking about conservation and the environment. Born to a family of doctors in North Carolina, USA, Ricky Kej returned to India when he was eight. Originally trained as a dentist, Ricky Kej never practised dentistry but devoted himself completely to music, lending his voice to many socially relevant causes including ecological conservation. He is also Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), IISc campus Bangalore.

Mr. Raghu Rai

Mr. Raghunath Rai Chowdhry, better known as Raghu Rai, is a highly acclaimed Indian photographer and photojournalist. Raghu Rai started learning photography in 1962 under his elder brother Sharampal Chowdhry, an award- winning photographer, and in 1965 joined The Statesman newspaper as its chief photographer. In 1976, he became a freelance photographer. Mr. Raghu Rai was also Director of photography for India Today. He served on the jury for World Press Photo from 1990 to 1997. Mr. Raghu Rai, a specialist in extensive coverage of India, has produced more than 18 books, including Raghu Rai's Delhi, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Taj Mahal, Tibet in Exile and Mother Teresa. Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colour and Reflections in Black and White are very popular. Mr. Raghu Rai completed an in-depth documentary project for Greenpeace on the chemical disaster at Bhopal in 1984, which he covered as a journalist with India Today in 1984.

Professor C. R. Babu

Professor C. R. Babu is Professor Emeritus, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), School of Environmental Studies (SES), University of Delhi. He is also Distinguished Professor of Environment and Ecology at the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University, Delhi. Professor Babu served as a faculty member in the Department of Botany, University of Delhi for 35 years. He was the founder Director of the CEMDE and created the Department of Environmental Biology, now known as the SES. Prof. Babu was the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Delhi University from 2000 to 2005. He is the Project Director of the Centre of Excellence programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India at CEMDE and Project In-charge, Biodiversity Parks, Delhi Development Authority. Professor Babu has been working in the areas of Conservation Biology; Biodiversity and Genetic Resources; Environmental Degradation and Ecological Restoration; Ecosystem Dynamics and Functions and Systematics.

Professor Ramana Athreya

Professor Ramana Athreya of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune is an astronomer by training. He also works on ecology and conservation of biological diversity. His main areas of interest are astrophysical phenomena studied at low radio frequencies; biological diversity research (diversity patterns and speciation processes) and wildlife conservation paradigms for Arunachal Pradesh. In 2006, Prof. Athreya described a new species of bird, the Bugun liocichla from the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in western Arunachal Pradesh, North-east India. This discovery has been described by Birdlife as “the most sensational ornithological discovery in India for more than half a century”. He was awarded the Pakshishree award in 2009 for this discovery by the Government of . In May 2011, he was conferred the Whitley Award, one of seven awardees in the year for his work on conservation and involving communities in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi is an Indian green activist, social worker, botanist and the founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), a Dehradun-based non- governmental organization involved in the development of environmentally sustainable technologies for the agricultural sector. He has received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award and is an Ashoka Fellow. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2006, for his contributions to Indian society. Born in Kotdwar, in Pauri Garhwal district, in the present day Uttarakhand state of India in a family of farmers, Dr. Joshi completed his M.Sc. in Botany and later, his doctorate in Ecology. He joined the faculty at Kotdwar Government PG College but resigned the job in 1979 and founded the NGO Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO). Under the aegis of HESCO, Dr. Joshi promoted research and development of new environment-friendly technologies for the agricultural sector, tapping the local resources.

Professor Mahesh Rangarajan

Prof. Mahesh Rangarajan, Professor of Environmental Studies and History at Ashoka University, is currently also Dean Academic Affairs of the University. His special areas of interest are environmental history and colonial history of British and contemporary India. Mahesh Rangarajan studied at Delhi University and at the University of Oxford where he went as a Rhodes Scholar and was awarded the Martin Wright Prize at Balliol College in 1988. He was the Charles Wallace Scholar at Nuffield College in 1991. Prof. Rangarajan appears frequently on Indian television as a political analyst. He is also a columnist in the print media, writing on wildlife conservation, political and environmental issues. In 2010, he chaired the Elephant Task Force (Gajah) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests formed to initiate measures for the protection of elephants in India. Prof. Rangarajan was awarded the TN Khooshoo Memorial Prize for Environment and Development in 2014.

Mr. Abani Kumar Sahu

Mr. Abani Kumar Sahu is a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. He started as a junior to Mr. Ram Jethmalani in 1988. Mr. Sahu is well-known for his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) cases in favour of good governance. He was complimented by the Supreme Court for a well-researched PIL seeking a guarantee from the government to safeguard the citizens’ right to live in a secure atmosphere in the aftermath of the Delhi blasts of 2005. The National Investigative Agency was a result of his 2008 PIL after the Mumbai terror attacks. He was appointed as Amicus Curiae in the famous Jain Hawala case, Indian bank cases and Chandraswami cases. The Supreme Court issued notice to gutka manufacturers on an application by Mr. Sahu alleging that even after the ban order restraining the use of plastic in sachets they were flouting the law and still using plastic pouches.

Mr. Chetan Chauhan

Mr. Chetan Chauhan is Senior Associate Editor at Hindustan Times. He handles six regional editions of the Hindustan Times as Deputy National Affairs Editor, including Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. He also handles national news flow from hundreds of correspondents across the country. This means he has to look at around 200 stories every day for different platforms – digital and print. A journalist for over 20 years, he has written extensively on social sector with special focus on environment and political economy. Mr. Chetan Chauhan has rich news reporting experience as he has worked in national political bureau covering all social sector beats including environment, health and education. He was previously handling the metro reporting team of Hindustan Times. However, his specialisation is environment and climate change. He has covered all United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) since 2007 and has travelled extensively in wildlife zones of the country.

Mr. Rahul Ram

Rahul Ram is an Indian bass guitarist, social activist and music composer. He plays bass guitar in the band Indian Ocean which he joined in 1991. Rahul completed his graduation in Chemistry from St. Stephen’s College and M.Sc. Chemistry from IIT Kanpur. Following a PhD (1986– 90) in Environmental Toxicology from Cornell University, which he attended on an Andrew White scholarship, he became an activist with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (1990–95). Later, Rahul Ram went to America to learn to play the Alto saxophone. Inside his group, he is known as Logic Baba because of his rationality. He has composed music and done playback singing in Bollywood. Along with Indian Ocean member Asheem, Rahul has sung 'Yaara Maula' in Anurag Kashayap's Gulaal, a movie based on student politics. Rahul Ram's band Indian Ocean has also given music for several films including Black Friday and Peepli Live.

About Miranda House

Miranda House, College for Women at University of Delhi, is amongst the premiere institutions of the country. It has been awarded All India Rank One amongst colleges under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018. Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has given it the Star College status. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has accredited the college with Grade A+. Established on 07 March 1948 by the then Vice Chancellor of University of Delhi Sir Maurice Gwyer, it chronicles the history of women’s education in India. Since its inception it has carved a unique niche for itself as a globally recognized premiere institution of higher learning. Miranda House has a rich legacy. The extremely distinguished list of alumnae imparts a sense of confidence and pride in students.

IBSD Miranda House Centre for North East Studies

This Centre has been established under the aegis of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur. The core mission of this Centre is to provide opportunities to students of all regions to explore and appreciate the diversity and immense potential of the north- eastern states; create a better research-based understanding of the ethos, challenges and opportunities in the north-eastern states in a culturally sensitive manner; and nurture, strengthen, celebrate and leverage the immense talent of the students of the region by providing them a forum for expression and innovation so that they may proactively contribute towards sustainable development and integration of the region.

About D S Kothari Centre for Research and Innovation in Science Education

This Centre has been established at Miranda House with generous funding from the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India in project mode. The Centre is devoted to promoting creativity and excellence in science with special focus on attracting young students to careers in science and nurturing their innate talent. It aims to act as a nodal centre that will provide easy access to resources for undertaking innovative and inspiring science activities designed to give an early exposure to the scientific process and the joys of discovery. The programs are informed by rigorous science education research, results of cognitive studies on students learning and pedagogic tools established to be effective. Special emphasis is on adopting multi-representational and multidisciplinary approach to science learning in contemporary contexts and integrating the use of cutting-edge educational tools and technologies to provide the best possible environment for exploratory work. An important component of our activities at DSKC entails interaction with schools and organization of mentoring programs.

Organizers Advisory Board Professor L.S. Shashidhara Professor of Biology, Indian Institue of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo Director, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur

Convener Dr. Pratibha Jolly Principal and PI, DS Kothari Centre for Research and Innovation in Science Education Co-Conveners Dr. Bani Roy Department of Chemistry Dr. Mallika Verma Department of Physics Dr. Jyoti Arora Department of Zoology Dr. Saloni Bahri Department of Botany

Local Organzing Committee Dr. Janaki Subramanian Department of Botany, Bursar Dr. Rashmi Rakshit Department of Physics, Convener Students Union Dr. Amrita Tripathi Sheikh Department of Chemistry, Adviser Environment Society Dr. Monika Tomar Department of Physics, Member Connectivity Committee Dr. Anuradha Khattar Department of Computer Sc, Member Connectivity Committee Dr. Bashabi Gupta Department of Geography, Convener Indian Music Dr. Balwant Kaur Department of Hindi, Convener Snapshots Ms. Aparajita Sharma Department of Hindi, Convener Fine Arts Dr. Sangeeta Rai Department of Hindi, Convener Fine Arts Dr. Ritu Gupta Department of Mathematics, Convener Quiz Society Dr. N. Bilasini Devi Department of Physics, Convener MH-IBSD Centre Dr. Rekha Kumari Department of Zoology, Member MH-IBSD Centre Dr. Rashmi Shakya Department of Botany, Member MH-IBSD Centre Dr. Ravinder Jha Department of Economics, Convener Cafeteria Committee

Assistance Mr. Sandeep Anand System Network Adminstrstor Ms. Shelly Jeena Secretary