DR. AK CHAKRAVARTHY
Dr. A. K. Chakravarthy, Head and Principal Scientist (Rtd.,), Division of Entomology and Nematology, is an author of many books and over 400 scientific papers and 60 chapters in Entomology and Natural history. His interest includes insects, birds, bats, rodents and mammals. With nearly four decades of experience in teaching, research and extension, Dr. Chakravarthy has been the investigator for over 38 research projects and has guided more than 40 students for post- graduation. Currently, Dr Chakravarthy is serving as a Research Scientist at Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), Bangalore. He is leading a team of researchers on fireflies bio-ecology, and conservation in Karnataka, South India. However, the team has established networks with researchers at national and international levels.
DR. RSM SAMSHUDEEN
An experienced Associate Professor at Kannur University, specializing in insect taxonomy, forest entomology, and biodiversity assessment. With over 17 years of experience, he has conducted inventories of insects in Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney funded by the Kerala Forest Department. He has organized several seminars and workshops, including the UGC-sponsored National Seminar on Insects diversity of Western Ghats and the State National Moth week Citizen Science Programme. Mohammed is a member of the IUCN-SSC Invertebrate Specialist Group, Technical Support Group of Kerala State Biodiversity Board, and Board of Studies in Zoology of Kannur University.
DR. BIJOY C
Dr Bijoy C, is an Assistant Professor of Zoology at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, India. He earned his doctorate degree from WGRC, ZSI, Calicut, a research centre under the University of Calicut where he specialized in taxonomy of parasitoid wasp superfamily, Ceraphronoidea of Western Ghats. He is the research supervisor of SERL, Christ College, Irinjalakuda and currently guiding 4 full time research scholars. His research interests include taxonomy of antlions, owlflies, bees and wasps. Taxonomic studies on lesser-known insect groups and its habitat association are an area of key interest. He is an author of more than 55 research articles in reputed national and international journals.
DR. S. Gandhimathy
Assistant Professor in Department of Zoology, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, TamilNadu, India-PIN-641004 engaged in teaching for past five years. I have been a part of educational research on Design and Technology education at Homi Bhaba Centre for Science education, Mumbai for 3 years and served as patent analyst at CSIR- Unit for Research and Development of Information Products at Pune. My research focused on insect toxicology and interested in monitoring and conservation of insects. I prefer to be a part of dedicated workforce and to disseminate knowledge to empower my students and community at large.
DR. S. Gandhimathy
Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women. She is a highly skilled educator with a talent for creating engaging and effective learning experiences for students. Her research specialization in Entomology focuses on exploring the ethno-entomological potential of insects, pest control solutions, & environmentally sustainable practices. She is particularly interested in ant therapeutics and investigating the use of ants and their derivatives for medicinal applications i.e. wound healing and disease treatment. Dr. Yamuna is a highly motivated individual and passionate about teaching and research. She is also a team player and confident in her ability to build strong relationships with her colleagues.
Dr. Jyothi v NAIR
A passionate interdisciplinary researcher specializing in the dynamics of endangered ecological systems. Her doctoral research focused on studying the factors that influence mating success in Indian blackbuck, where she used a blend of behavioral, genetic, and chemical ecological methodologies to understand the lek mating system. Jyoti’s dedication to science extends to educating and fostering the dissemination of knowledge among students, where she has served as a consultant for the Translation Initiative at Azim Premji University. Moving forward, she plans to study fireflies, an understudied and endangered species in India, to unravel their intricate associations with plants and make informed contributions to their conservation efforts.
mR. Ashutosh Dey
An accomplished wildlife conservationist with a Master’s degree in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation. His primary research interest lies in aquatic organisms and their associated environments, as well as other fauna like birds, small mammals, and insects. Ashutosh’s passion for wildlife conservation has led him to publish four research articles during and after his master’s program. His research has been focused on investigating the ecology, behavior, and conservation of various species of aquatic organisms, birds, and small mammals. Currently, Ashutosh is part of the FAA Firefly Team, where he is investigating the fireflies in Odisha.
MS. SUBHADRA BARIK
I am a wildlife researcher with a strong interest in empirical and applied ecology. My journey began with studying mushroom diversity in Odisha during my undergraduate studies, leading me to an M.Sc. in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation at North Orissa University, where I focused on the distribution and conservation of sacred groves. Currently, as an INSPIRE Fellow at SACON, my PhD explores habitat assessment of megaherbivores. My research primarily explores plant-animal interactions in complex ecosystems, with a strong inclination towards analytical science and biostatistics.
Mr. Ranjit R. Raut
A Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Zoology, Yogeshwari Mahavidyalaya Ambajogai, affiliated to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra, India. He has completed three Master’s degrees, M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Zoology, and M.Phil. Degree in Zoology from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune Maharashtra. Ranjit has almost 7 years of research experience, published 29 research papers, registered 3 Indian patents, and worked as a volunteer at Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB, MoEFCC). He is a life member of Biotech Research Society India, and his area of research interest is Life Sciences and Biodiversity Conservation.
mR. Abhishek TS
I am Abhishek TS, currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the Division of Entomology, SKUAST-Jammu, J&K and working under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Uma Shankar. My academic focus lies in the field of Integrated Pest & Pollinator Management, with a particular emphasis on Plant-Pollinator Interactions. My current research is dedicated to exploring the multifaceted relationships between plants and pollinators, with a specific focus on Leaf cutter bees (Megachilidae). The fascinating world of pollination, its ecological implications, and its impact on sustainable agriculture have been central to my academic pursuits. My dedication to unravelling the complexities of plant-pollinator interactions, particularly with non-Apis species, is rooted in the belief that such knowledge can significantly contribute to effective pest management and promote the well-being of essential pollinators.
Ms. Debora Honoach
A passionate zoology student from Odisha who is currently pursuing her MSC in zoology at St.Josephs University Bangalore. Debora has a keen interest in wildlife and entomology, as they have always caught her attention and made her eager to learn more about them. Initially, she was interested in wildlife and decided to choose it as her career path. However, during her BSc, she came across a subject called agriculture entomology, which mesmerized her and captured all her attention. Since then, whenever she sees any kind of insects, she captures them in image form and gathers information about them. Her passion for entomology has now led her to decide to take it as her career path, and she is already on the way to achieving her goals.
Ms. Harsita
A passionate nature enthusiast with a keen interest in fireflies and birding. She is a constant learner and seeks to understand the natural world through science and photography. Her fascination with fireflies has been a lifelong passion, which she combines with her interest in birds to explore the beauty of nature. After completing her M.Sc., Harshita is currently looking for the right opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in wildlife. She is committed to pursuing a career in wildlife and making a meaningful contribution to the field. Her unique perspective and passion for nature have inspired others to explore the world around them and raise awareness about the importance of protecting our planet’s natural resources.
ms. Diya Banerjee
Diya is a Ram Hattikudur Advanced Training for Conservation Fellow with a strong background in entomology. She completed her master’s in Zoology from the University of Calcutta, interned at the Wildlife Institute of India, and worked on the taxonomy of museum moth specimens at the Zoological Survey of India. She later served as a research assistant at North Bengal Wild Animal Park, working on Lepidoptera and Odonata conservation. She is now keen to contribute to firefly conservation. Passionate about overlooked taxa, she aims to integrate research and community involvement for effective species conservation
MR. Surya Maanas A S
A 23-year-old from Kerala, Palakkad who has post-graduated in Zoology at Kannur University. He has completed his dessertation on ‘Habitat suitability modelling of fireflies (Abscondita perplexa) in Manathavadi Taluk in wayanad district’. He has always been curious, which led him to pursue science and his passion for it has only grown since then. Surya is also a talented martial artist who has trained in Karate, Muay Thai, and Boxing, and an avid sports player. He is enthusiastic about life and always strives to achieve more, which motivates him to keep going. With his diverse interests and an unwavering spirit, Surya Maanas A.S is sure to make a name for himself in the world
Mr. Abhishek Mishra
A graduate from St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, currently pursuing his Master’s in Zoology from the same university. His dissertation titled ‘Fireflies of Kanger Valley National park: Diversity, ecology, myths and belief.’ Abhishek has a keen interest in the enigmatic social behavior of insects and their fascinating ancestry. His fields of intrigue revolve around Behavioral ecology, Anatomy, and Taxonomy of insects. Apart from his academics, Abhishek loves Macro-photography of insects, Birding, and Herping. He spends his leisure time capturing the beauty of insects through his camera lens