Science for Society
I strongly believe that science must reach classrooms, communities, and the public. My outreach work focuses on making freshwater ecology and diatom science accessible to diverse audiences, including school students, college teachers, local communities, and citizen scientists.
School & Community Engagement
Hands-on Learning for Students
- Conduct interactive sessions on freshwater biodiversity, microscopy, algae, and river ecology
- Organise demonstrations where students observe live and permanent diatom slides
- Lead field exposure visits to rivers, lakes, and wetlands to understand water quality and environmental change
Reaching Tribal and Rural Schools
- Regular programmes in underserved regions, especially Western Ghats and tribal villages of Maharashtra
- Use simple explanations, visuals, and local-language communication to help students connect with science
- Emphasis on rivers, environmental health, and local biodiversity to build real-world understanding
Teacher Training & Capacity Building
I have trained hundreds of teachers across India through workshops organised with ARI, IndiaBioscience, NCERT, and Pune Knowledge Cluster.
Focus areas include:
- Freshwater biodiversity and ecology
- Use of microscopes and simple tools for classroom science
- Integrating environmental concepts into school curricula
- Activity-based learning on water, pollution, and conservation
These workshops help teachers gain clarity on ecological concepts and improve science communication in classrooms.
Educational Tools & Popularisation
Science Communication in Simple Language
- Featured in Tinkle magazine introducing diatoms to children through comics
- Profiled in IndiaBioscience’s Dhvani for regional-language outreach
- Write accessible articles for school students on algae, wetlands, and diatom ecology
Learning Resources Developed
- Co-developer of the SimRiver educational module in Indian languages
- Contributed to NCERT textbooks for Classes 6, 7, 8, and now Class 9
- Created illustrated content linking rivers, biodiversity, and environmental change
Citizen Science & Public Programmes
- Conduct public talks on rivers, water quality, biodiversity, and climate change
- Engage citizen volunteers in river sampling, biodiversity walks, and microscope-based exploration
- Support community organisations, NGOs, and CSR programmes in ecological monitoring
Workshops, Exhibitions & Demonstrations
I regularly organise or contribute to:
- National-level workshops on diatom taxonomy and biomonitoring
- Exhibitions showcasing diatom diversity through images, slides, and interactive sessions
- Online training programmes on freshwater ecology, biodiversity, and environmental monitoring
These events engage students, teachers, researchers, policymakers, and local communities.
Outreach Through Research Projects
Many of my research and CSR-linked projects integrate public engagement:
- School and community participation in river health assessment
- Awareness sessions on pollution sources and safe water practices
- Training for local stakeholders on ecosystem monitoring
This model strengthens science–society connections and helps communities understand the importance of healthy river systems.