Download 2015 July Term Community and Ecosystems Ecology (Open for 5

2015 July Term

Community and Ecosystems Ecology (Open for 5 students)
Instructors: Drs. Mahesh Sankaran / Umesh Srinivasan
Duration: June 22nd to July 21st

Landscape Ecology
Instructors: Drs. Jagdish Krishnaswamy / Divya Vasudev
Duration: June 30th to July 24th
Description:
At the end of the paper, the students should be familiar with:
1. Foundations and research methods in landscape ecology
2. Patch dynamics, patch size and number, boundaries and edges, edge effects, patch shape corridors, matrix
effects, mosaics,
3. Geodesy, mapping, co-ordinate systems, ground survey and positioning,
4. Remote sensing, cartography, and GIS.
This paper will help students integrate the concepts of Landscape Ecology with other aspects of ecology as
well as to the broad field of conservation.

Conservation Laws, Policies and Management
Instructors: Drs. D.S. Ravindran / Ravi Chellam
Duration: July 18th to August 22nd
Description: This paper gives a comprehensive idea of the legal and policy framework, at national,
international and state levels, within which conservation functions in India. It would also introduce the
students to the organizational and functional structure of the agencies and institutions that are involved in
conservation in India. Particular emphasis would be made on the preparation of management plans by the
forest department, enforcement of Wildlife Life Protection Act etc.

Popular Writing
Instructor: Ms. Prerna Singh Bindra
Duration: July 22nd to July 30th
Description: This module would equip the students with the skills necessary for writing proposals (academic
and funding) and scientific papers, making presentations, and advocacy that are critical to conservation
science and to its practice.

Conservation Genetics (Open for 5 students)
Instructor: Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan
Duration: July 20th to September 2nd

Freshwater Ecology
Instructor: Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy
Duration: August 10th to 22nd and September 4th
Description: The aim of this course is to introduce students to a comprehensive understanding of issues
surrounding freshwater biodiversity conservation through ecological, hydrological, socio-economic and
policy viewpoints. Through lectures, case studies, group discussions, and hands-on field exercises, the
course will engage with the nitty-gritty of ecological research on freshwater ecosystems. Beginning here,
the course will help develop a comparative understanding of conservation approaches, attempting to
strongly integrate human dimensions in conserving freshwater systems, stressing the need to look beyond
land-based conservation policies that dominate conservation discourse. The course will expect keen
participation from students in talks, group discussions and field exercises. Students will also need to work
on 1) group presentations and discussions of topical papers, 2) short group reports based on field
exercises and analysis, 3) individual assignments which will involve review paper or policy analysis
submissions.

Ecological History
Instructor: Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan
Duration: September 24th to 27th and October 2nd to 5th
Description: The course aims to be an introduction to key themes to ecological histories and conservation
legacies in India. This is a region with diverse landscapes and cultures, differing environmental traditions and
lively debates about alternative futures. The paper sharply focuses on the colonial period and its aftermath,
but seeks to place these events in perspective. The subsequent emergence of conflicts and projects related to
nature conservation in the twentieth century and their record forms a major part of the course. Selections
from a rich corpus of original sources including travel writings; pictorial books, memoirs add variety to the
study of the region. The idea will be criss-cross between past trends, present day dilemmas and future
options. Thus a debate on Project Tiger or the fate of the elephant, turtle controversies or the tribal land
rights today will be discussed with a view to the past as well as the future.