Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Aparajita Datta

Nature Conservation Foundation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Dr. Aparajita Datta has dedicated herself to long-term research and conservation efforts in North-East India and North Bengal, with a primary focus on hornbills. Her work focuses on understanding plant–animal interactions in rainforests, assessing the impacts of human activities on wildlife and natural ecosystems, and fostering conservation initiatives in collaboration with tribal communities. Dr. Aparajita's passion for preserving biodiversity is deeply intertwined with her commitment to sustainable coexistence between people and nature.

Plenary Speakers

Dr. Umesh Srinivasan

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Dr. Umesh Srinivasan is a community ecologist whose research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change and habitat degradation on Himalayan biodiversity, particularly avian species. He conducts long-term field studies to monitor bird populations and investigate shifts in mixed-species interactions and community dynamics across elevational gradients. Beyond his research, he collaborates with local communities and conservation organizations to protect threatened species, and is involved in the management of the Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve.

Dr. Farah Ishtiaq

Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Dr. Farah Ishtiaq specializes in the ecology and genetics of vector-borne diseases, focusing on how mosquito biology and other ecological factors drive pathogen transmission in birds. An expert in avian malaria epidemiology, she studies its emergence in high-altitude, malaria-free zones in India. Combining fieldwork, fine-scale landscape genetics, and computational approaches, her research explores how landscape features influence gene flow in mosquito populations, providing critical insights into the spread of vector-borne diseases.

Dr. Sutirtha Dutta

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India

Dr. Sutirtha Dutta is a population ecologist, whose research focuses on the conservation of endangered species inhabiting grasslands and deserts. In particular, he has extensively studied the Great Indian Bustard, making significant contributions to conservation strategies and formulating action plans for its recovery. His work includes spatial prioritization, risk characterization, and the development of management practices aimed at preserving these critical habitats and their avian inhabitants.

Prof. Soumya Iyengar

National Brain Research Center Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Prof. Soumya Iyengar is a distinguished neuroscientist in the Systems and Behavior division at the NBRC, Manesar. Her research primarily focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying vocal learning and auditory processing in song birds. Specifically, she investigates auditory cortical development, cognition in corvids, neural plasticity and the modulatory role of the opioid system on vocal learning. Her work provides profound insights into brain function, neural development, and animal behavior.

Prof. Khursheed Ahmad

Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University, Kashmir, India

Prof. Khursheed Ahmad is an expert in Himalayan ungulate and avifauna conservation, with significant contributions to the study of waterfowl ecology, migration patterns, and disease monitoring in the wetlands of the Kashmir Valley. He has pioneered the capture, satellite collaring, and identification of the Hangul as a distinct species. His extensive work also includes genetic studies of the Hangul and Tibetan antelope, snow leopard habitat exploration, and bird diversity in Jammu & Kashmir.

Prof. Dinesh Bhatt

Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

Prof. Dinesh Bhatt is a renowned ornithologist specializing in avian bioacoustics and breeding ecology. His research over three decades has focused on bird song, nesting behavior and territoriality in diverse Indian bird models, including the Oriental Magpie Robin, Pied Bushchat, Indian Chat, Purple Sunbird, and Ashy Prinia. Prof. Bhatt has worked extensively on the impact of ecological changes on bird diversity and has pioneered the field of avian bioacoustics in India.

Invited Speakers