On the occasion on Wildlife Week 2021, Biodiversity Research Cell, Department Of Zoology, Carmel Collge organized a National Webinar on Women in Wildlife Research in partnership with Goa State Biodiversity Board, on 04th October 2021.
We received a great response with 311 registrations from 15 states in India and 4 countries. The event began at 2.45 pm with the introduction to the webinar by Ms. Pratiksha Sail, Organising Secretary of the webinar and Assistant Professor in Zoology.
Dr. Sr. Maria Lizanne A. C., Principal of Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce welcomed the attendees with a heartwarming speech reflecting upon Women’s education and a career in wildlife research and importance of conservation on the occasion of wildlife week. Dr. Pradeep Sarmokadam, Member Secretary of Goa State Biodiversity Board highlighted on the awareness of wildlife conservation and need for more representation in field biology and research. He mentioned the zoology departments’ continuous involvement in documentation and research in biodiversity of Goa. Dr. Manoj Borkar, Head of Zoology Department elaborated on the scope of the webinar and wildlife week, encouraging women to seek opportunities in wildlife research.
Our first speaker for the webinar was Ms. Parveen Shaikh, Scientist B at Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. She is the recipient of the Conservation Leadership Programme Future Conservationist Award, Birdlife International and Ravi Sankaran Research Grant. Her talk was on breeding ecology, migration studied using tagging of Indian Skimmer, an endangered bird breeding along the banks of Chambal river. She also pointed out the difficulties and other obstacle experienced by women in wildlife biology.
Our 2nd speaker was Dr. Devica Ranade, Program Manager at Nature Conservation Foundation and Founder of EcoRE (Ecology Research Explained). Her talk was on animal behaviour, her work on Peninsular Rock Agamas, Meerkts and Giraffes in South Africa. She explored the nuances of building a research project, opportunities and scholarships available. Both the talks were very well received by the audience and interactive with question answer sessions.
After both sessions, Ms. Karen Braganza gave the vote of thanks, appreciating efforts of the institute, department, Goa state Biodiversity Board and the attendees, and the webinar ended at 5.20 pm.
