SURATHKAL: The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, inaugurated a two-day national workshop titled “Emotional Drivers for Biodiversity Conservation Action” at its Silver Jubilee Auditorium on Wednesday.
Organized under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) funded by the Ministry of Education, the event brings together conservation scientists, environmental psychologists, and forestry professionals to explore the human and psychological drivers behind environmental action. Over 150 researchers, academicians, and students from across India are attending the workshop convened by Dr. Sabiha Alam Choudhury of NITK’s School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management.
Inaugurating the event as Chief Guest, Shri C. Ravishankar, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Mangaluru Division), emphasized that legal frameworks and quantitative data alone cannot achieve conservation without community involvement. "We protect what we value, we value what we understand, and we understand what we are emotionally connected to," he stated, highlighting sacred forest preservation efforts in Madikeri as a model of community-driven conservation.
Presiding over the session, NITK Director Prof. B. Ravi called for broader public action in ecological protection, pointing to campus initiatives like the newly developed NITKere reservoir as an example of localized sustainability.
Distinguished speakers from Australia's University of Newcastle highlighted the intersection of psychology and conservation. Prof. Matt Hayward underscored the necessity of multi-disciplinary approaches to prevent ecological collapse, comparing biodiversity loss to a game of Jenga. Dr. Andrea Griffin noted that while information rarely shifts behavior on its own, emotional connection acts as a key trigger for long-term habits of care.
Renowned tiger conservation scientist and NITK alumnus Dr. Ullas Karanth (Padma Shri awardee and Emeritus Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies) reflected on how his mechanical engineering background provided a quantitative foundation for wildlife ecology and problem-solving in the field.
The workshop's itinerary features technical sessions by Dr. Pankaj Sekhsaria (IIT Bombay), Ms. Sudha S., IFS (Tamil Nadu Forest Academy), and Dr. Satheesh Varma M. (Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth), covering topics ranging from climate crisis solutions to psychometric testing in environmental psychology. The event will conclude on Thursday with interactive sessions, a valedictory function, and cultural performances.
إرسال تعليق