About the Conference
Welcome to the Indian Wildlife Ecology Conference (IWEC `24), dedicated to advancing the science of wildlife ecology in India. IWEC `24 is more than just a conference; it’s a vibrant community of wildlife ecologists coming together to share their work, discuss the science, form collaborations and network, ideate the future and promote this discipline.
India has a rich diversity of ecosystems including the oceans, tropical rainforests, savannas, temperate forests, hot and cold deserts, wetlands, and urban ecosystems. Each of these has unique communities of microbes, flora and fauna. The banners attempt to capture this diversity. Each of these also has unique ecosystem processes, functions and services. Research on India’s wildlife ecology, although nascent, reflects this diversity in ecosystems, taxa, geographies, and disciplines.
IWEC `24 aims to capture the significant advances that we have made in research on India’s wildlife ecology in all its diversity.
The conference will, for the first time, bring together professional and aspiring researchers of Indian wildlife ecology.
What to Expect
At IWEC `24 you can expect several high quality symposia, carefully curated by the conference’s Science Committee. Each symposium will provide different perspectives on a key contemporary issue in wildlife ecology in which we have made significant progress.
We are organising panel discussions on emerging trends in wildlife ecology research.
We will also have a carefully selected set of posters which provide early career wildlife ecologists the opportunity to discuss their projects.
A unique feature of IWEC `24 will be several informal small-group meetings where you can discuss your research ideas, seek collaborations, share data, and brainstorm future directions on specific research topics.
Although IWEC `24 is about the science of wildlife ecology, rather than conservation, the on-ground application of our research to protect and manage India’s wildlife and wild habitats will be an underlying theme. The Conference will pursue this theme more formally through panel discussions and symposia with our colleagues from the forest departments and local communities.
We will also discuss important matters such as funding, future ecology meet-ups, and the way forward as a community. And on a lighter note, do also expect an evening or two of fun and frolic with music, dance, and other entertainment offered by participants.
Steering Committee
IWEC `24 is made possible through the guidance and support of our Steering Committee. We appreciate their dedicated time and commitment to shaping the vision and planning of this conference.
Dr Ajith Kumar
Conference Convenor,
Centre for Wildlife Studies
Dr Jayashree Ratnam
Conference Co-convenor,
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Dr Abi Tamim Vanak
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
Dr Anish Andheria
Wildlife Conservation Trust
Dr Arundhati Das
WCS-India
Dr Kartik Shanker
Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc
Dr Krithi Karanth
Centre for Wildlife Studies
Dr M Ananda Kumar
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) – India
Rushikesh Chavan
The Habitats Trust
Dr Sejal Worah
WWF-India
Dr Uma Ramakrishnan
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Vivek Menon
Wildlife Trust of India
Science Committee
Our Science Committee plays a pivotal role in shaping the scope of the conference. Comprising professionals from diverse ecological disciplines, they bring their wealth of experience to ensure that IWEC `24 offers a stimulating platform for researchers to share their work. The committee will formulate guidelines for the various knowledge-sharing sessions we plan to have in the conference, including symposia, poster presentations, and panel discussions.
Dr Jayashree Ratnam
Conference Co-convenor and Science Committee Chair
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Dr Anindya Sinha
National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc
Dr Aparajita Datta
Nature Conservation Foundation
Dr Bindu Raghavan
Centre for Wildlife Studies
Dr Divya Vasudev
Conservation Initiatives
Dr Harendra Singh Bargali
The Corbett Foudation
Dr Jagdish Krishnaswamy
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
Dr Jahnavi Joshi
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Dr Lalremsanga HT
Mizoram University
Dr Manimekalan A
Bharathiar University
Dr Meghna Krishnadas
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Dr Naveen Namboothri
Dakshin Foundation
Dr Robin VV
IISER Tirupati
Dr Sanjay Sane
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Dr Shivani Jadeja
Krea University
Dr Tawqir Bashir
Dr Ullasa Kothandaramaiah
IISER Thiruvananthapuram
Dr Vidyadhar Atkore
Dr Yash Veer Bhatnagar
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Organising Committee
Our Organising Committee orchestrates every detail of the conference to ensure its success. Comprising professionals from diverse backgrounds, they bring their wealth of administrative and organisational experience to IWEC `24. From coordinating logistics to shaping the conference agenda, our committee members work behind the scenes to ensure that IWEC ’24 is a memorable and enriching experience for all participants.
Dr Vivek Ramachandran
Organsing Commitee Chair,
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Ms Smitha Prabhakar
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF)
Dr Vaishnavi Sridhar
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Dr Vishnupriya Sankararaman
WCS-India
Varsha Sathish Kumar
IWEC`24 Coordinator,
Centre for Wildlife Studies
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© 2023, Illustrations by Ravi Jambhekar. All rights reserved.