Listen to thought leaders share research findings and solutions on green time and screen time...

Richard Dunne founded The Harmony Project after developing the Harmony approach to learning in his previous role as Headteacher of an Ofsted-graded Outstanding school.

This approach brings together subject-specific skills and knowledge around projects or enquiries of learning that take learning beyond the classroom and apply it to the real world. Each enquiry references a principle of Harmony in Nature – Interdependence, Cycles, Diversity, Adaptation, Health and Oneness. When learners understand these principles of Harmony, they learn what they need to do to live sustainably, too. It is our lack of understanding of these principles that has led us to a place where the future well-being of our planet and its people is now at stake.

Richard now shares this approach across the education sector nationally and globally through presentations, workshops and school support programmes. He has written a teachers’ guide to enable teachers and educators to implement Harmony principles and practices in their education settings. The guide is being promoted as a blueprint for Education for Sustainability with the Department of Education. It has now been translated into nine languages.

Richard Louv is an American Journalist and has authored books like Vitamin N, Last Child in the Woods. His books have been translated and published in 24 countries, and helped launch an international movement to connect children, families and communities to nature. He is co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, an organisation helping build the movement. 

Dr Bharucha has been active in wildlife and nature conservation for nearly fifty years. A well-known wildlife photographer, he has traveled and studied Indian National parks and wildlife sanctuaries extensively over the last four decades.

He has been a member and executive and governing bodies of several conservation institutions such as the Bombay Natural History Society, Worldwide Fund for Nature Pune,

Salim Ali center for Ornithology and Natural History, Wild Life trust of India , and Wildlife Institute of India, He has been a member of Central Zoo Authority, ENVIS Center (GOI), Member of Planning Commission, Member of Independent Management Effectiveness, Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (GOI), He is member of National Tiger Conservation Authority. He has been the Chairman of the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board and has worked with the National Biodiversity Authority.

In 1993, he initiated the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER). is presently Director, BVIEER, The Institute runs MSc. courses in Environment Management and Technology, Geoinformatics and Wildlife Conservation Action.

Dr Bharucha did the first aerial survey monitoring and GIS analyses. He developed the first bird call tapes and CD -ROM in India for BNHS. He has been engaged in implementing a variety of environmental education programs for schools and colleges and for the public at large. He has been associated with the NCERT, SCERT and UGC to further the cause of formal environmental education.

A surgeon by profession, he works in Pune, India. He has a large no of scientific articles in reputed journals. His major publications include ‘The Biodiversity of India (CD-ROM and book)’, Textbook on Environmental Studies for ndergraduate Courses for the University Grants Commission (UGC). He has written three extensive volumes on ‘Wonders of the 2 Indian Wilderness’, Volume I – Biodiversity of India; Volume II – Protected Areas of India;

Volume III – A History of Conservation in India published by Mapin Publishers. The first two volumes have been published by Abbevillee Press as a single volume.

He has published - ‘Living Bridges – Folk Cultures of India Then and Now ’and Changing Landscapes that deal with India’s culture and heritage.

In 2021 the third edition of his popular Text Book on Environment Studies has been popular published for the ‘Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course ‘in Environment studies for all undergraduate courses across the country.

He has won several awards for his work in conservation of nature.

In 2023 he has received the “Lifetime Service Award” by the Sanctuary Wildlife Awards.

Over the years he has been a popular speaker on Wild life and Nature Conservation and the History of Environment Management in India.

Harini Nagendra is Director of Research Centre at the University, and leads the University’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability.

Nagendra is known for her research spanning over 30 years on forest conservation, and urban sustainability, with several seminal publications in both areas of work. Her interdisciplinary work on forests combines remote sensing, biodiversity studies and institutional analysis, and is recognised for elucidating the link between pattern and process in the human-dominated landscapes of South Asia. 

Her work on urban ecology and sustainability highlights the importance of urban ecosystems in contributing critical ecosystem services and impacting urban resilience and human well-being, especially of marginalised communities — an important global gap, especially for the Global South. 

For her interdisciplinary research and practice, she has received many awards including the 2009 Cozzarelli Prize from the US National Academy of Sciences, the 2013 Elinor Ostrom Senior Scholar award, and the 2017 Clarivate Web of Science award. She is an elected member of The World Academy of Sciences, Trieste, and the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. She has written over 200 academic papers, including recent publications in Nature, Nature Sustainability, and Science, and is on Stanford University’s list of the top 2% cited scientists in the world.

In addition to academic writing, she is deeply interested in public communication of academic research. She has written a number of popular books including Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future; Cities and Canopies: Trees of Indian Cities; and Shades of Blue: Connecting the Drops in India’s Cities (the last two co-authored with Seema Mundoli). 

After serving The School KFI Chennai as its Principal for 18 years from 1991, the author was instrumental in setting up a new Krishnamurti residential school called Pathashaala.  He has been involved in initiating and supporting many initiatives at the schools he has worked in such as mixed age groups in junior and middle school, a dynamic program for class 11 students and instituting a teacher training programme. 

Serving as Director-Secretary of Pathashaala (Palar Centre for Learning - KFI) since 2012. The new KFI school, Pathashaala attempts education with a high level of sustainability choices - solar power, dry composting toilets, sustainable sanitation etc in a rural setting, making sense to the neighbourhood and reaching out with various projects.

Gautama finds dialogue and enquiry as potent dimensions in the pedagogic process where an atmosphere of learning is co-created by educators and learners. Empowering teachers has been the main focus of his work over the past 35 years. 

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Ismail, born October 9, 1951, is an ardent student in the field of ecology and environmental science. Currently serving as Advisor and former Director of the Ecoscience Research Foundation in Chennai, he has dedicated his career to research and applied work on various topics, including ecology, environment, earthworms, and organic inputs since 1978-79.

He is presently Member, the State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu, specifically involved in preparing the Organic Farming Policy, the Land Use Policy, the Water Policy, and the Waste Management Policy for the State; and Member, Panel to frame the State Education Policy, Government of Tamil Nadu, India. He is recently appointed as Chairman, Committee to evaluate the need and efficacy of Bio-Stimulants and Bio-Fertilizers distributed by the Agriculture department, Government of Tamil Nadu Dr. Ismail began his teaching career on November 25, 1974, and later held positions as the

Head of the Department of Zoology and the Department of Biotechnology at The New College in Chennai. Over the years, he has been actively involved with numerous institutions, farmers, and self-help groups, advocating for concepts such as ecology, sustainability, organic practices, waste management, and wastewater treatment.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ismail has received several prestigious awards and recognitions. Some notable honoursinclude the CASTME award in the UK for 1994-95, the Arignar Anna Award from the Department of Environment of the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2005, the Award of Excellence from the Governor of Jharkhand in December 2010, and the Special Contribution Award for outstanding contributions to the earthworm industry at the 1st World Earthworm Industry Forum in China in June 2018. In subsequent years, Dr.

Ismail continued to receive accolades, including the Champion of Chennai Award in 2019, the Beacon of Hope Award in February 2020, and the Inspiring Humanitarian Award by the World Humanitarian Drive UK in May 2021. Additionally, he was honoured with the Green Man Award in June 2021 by the Rotary Club during the Peace Builders Award ceremony.

Pallavi is leading the non-degree (short courses and modules) initiative at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment (ATREE) Academy in the broad area of sustainability practice and education.

Prior to Joining ATREE Pallavi taught Masters and Undergraduate students at Azim Premji University, Bangalore, India from 2012 – 2023. Her teaching had three focus areas: one was the ‘Gandhian vision of a Good Society’ ; second was ‘Education for Sustainability’ in which she also led a practice based project around millet farming in an urban school ;  and third was ‘Living Utopias’– alternatives Industrialism currently in practice in India and the world.

Peace-pilgrim, life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar has been inspiring global change for over 50 years.

A world-renown author and international speaker, Satish founded The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity that seeks to inform and inspire a just future for all. He was the Editor of the charity's change-making magazine, Resurgence & Ecologist, for over 40 years, making him the UK's longest-serving editor of the same magazine. He continues to serve this publication as Editor Emeritus and by writing for each and every trailblazing issue of this much-loved and acclaimed magazine which has been described by The Guardian as the 'spiritual and ecological flagship of the environmental movement'.

Satish has been the guiding spirit behind several other internationally respected ecological and educational ventures. He co-founded Schumacher College which he continues to serve as a Visiting Fellow.

 Holds a degree as an Architect from RV College of Engineering. His college years allowed him to work in Auroville, an experimental international city set up to explore human unity. He also worked on a Formula-styled race car, the only team representing India in Melbourne, Australia.  After graduating, he began an architectural practice with his wife and took up turnkey institutional projects. This gave him the exposure to manage large projects across multiple roles apart from getting involved in education at the foundation levels. 

For the past decade, he has been officially associated with GEAR in a full-time capacity, looking after Operations, Finance, Hiring, events, partner programs, and special initiatives. He is serving as the Executive Director at GEAR Foundation. His interests span Design, Finance, and Business, and he believes that Sustainability should be part of every individual's action and not just a term to be used.

 Yuvan Aves is a writer, naturalist, educator and an environmental defender based in Chennai. His recent book is Intertidal - A coast and marsh diary, published by Bloomsbury.  He is the author of two books on ecology and 3 children's books, recipient of the Sanctuary Asia Green Teacher Award, M. Krishnan Memorial Nature Writing Award, among others. He is an active part of resistance and community movements against ecocide and industrial violence in South India. He is the founder - managing trustee of Palluyir Trust for Nature Education and Research. 

Chong Shimray is a faculty member at the Department of Education in Science and Mathematics, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. She has been associated with NCERT since 2004. She works in the area of Science and Environmental Education and has the expertise in curriculum development, textbook writing, teacher training, educational research etc.

She is primarily recognized for her significant contributions in the area of Environmental Education. She has authored two books—Teaching Environmental Education: Trends and Practices in India published by SAGE India and Understanding Environmental Education—Theory and Practices in India by Taylor & Francis (Routledge imprint). Her strength, which she says is also her weakness, is in being honest, straightforward, and consistent in her views, irrespective of who is on the other side.

She twice had the honour to be the Fulbright-Nehru Fellow in the United States – 2009-2010 and 2017-2018. She also received Chevening Research, Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship (CRISP) Fellow hosted by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom in 2022.
 

Vena worked with organisations researching and practicing organic agriculture, and studying rainforest ecosystems and restoration efforts. In late 2018 Vena started  Nature Classrooms as part of the Nature Conservation Foundation’s Education and Public Engagement Programme. With her team she works closely with primary school teachers and educators through training programmes. She also conducts workshops, talks, walks for adults and children to introduce them to the fascinating world of insects, spiders and nature around them. She holds an MPhil in Conservation Leadership (2010-11) from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Masters in Ecology (2000-2002) from the University of Pondicherry. Longer bio here. 

I am a nature educator and creative freelancer in Bangalore. As a child, I was fortunate to have mentors who encouraged me to establish a curiosity with the outdoors and a hunger to engage with local backyard wildlife. Today, I seek to pass on the same enthusiasm and sense of wonder that was given to me in the hope that children who develop a personal relationship to their environment will eventually grow into adults with an active stake in the outdoors. At Centre for Learning where I work with children across different age groups, this is done using a constellation of activities ranging from land care, nature observation-based projects and regular walks in the outdoors to witness and document different aspects of the natural world in ways that make sense for a child. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a master’s in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. As a freelancer, I write and illustrate (preferably for people working on environmental issues) and work as a cinematographer for corporate clients.

Reva’s focus in the last couple of decades has been to decode natural and sociocultural systems towards making sense of the living-learning-livelihood system. She has been studying how living, learning and livelihood have gotten siloed over time, while they are one elegant nested system with interrelated synergies between them. Livelihood is about securing life-essentials, living is how we organize our lives around the life-essentials, and learning is a consequence of living. Progressive societies enable people to find congruence between the three. 

Reva has worked in the field of education and learning, involved in re-envisioning learning spaces as well as work culture. She explored natural learning as a pursuit towards looking at learning beyond educational institutions and curriculums. She believes that it is natural if learning is a consequence of living rather than an enforced intervention. 

Reva is the cofounder of Primalise. An organisation that helps business and social organisations reconnect with their core-essentials and negotiate step-changes.

Shourya is an alumnus of Prakriya from the batch of 2015. He holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi as well as an M.Sc. in Mathematics from Concordia University, Montreal and the University of Bordeaux in France. Shourya has earned multiple academic scholarships, including the INSPIRE Government of India Scholarship for Higher Education and the Concordia Tuition Fee Award of Excellence. Besides academia, he is an accomplished pianist, and was the Conductor of the St. Stephen's College Choir. He also enjoys learning languages, is fluent in French and is now tackling German. He is currently on a break year exploring his interests and hopes to kick off his career soon.

Mr. Akbar holds a Master's degree in Education from Azim Premji University, with a specialization in Teacher and Teacher Education, Professional Development, and Early Childhood Education. His journey in education commenced as a Science teacher educator and Early Childhood Educator at Azim Premji Foundation, where he dedicated five years of his career serving in Chattisgarh and Sangareddy. During this time, he practiced his skills in

workshop facilitation, accumulating over 100+ hours of hands-on expertise in this field.

Currently, Mr. Akbar serves as a Senior Education Officer for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at WWF-India, a position he has held since 2022. In this pivotal role, he spearheads impactful environmental education initiatives tailored for schools and colleges. His efforts extend beyond traditional classroom settings, as he organizes nature connect programs aimed at engaging citizens and youth alike. Through these initiatives, Mr. Akbar actively contributes to raising awareness about the breathtaking natural world that surrounds us.

One of Mr. Akbar's passions lies in wildlife photography, nature documentation, and exploration activities with children. His keen eye for capturing the beauty of wildlife and the natural environment serves as a powerful tool for inspiring others to appreciate and protect our planet's precious biodiversity.

Mr. Akbar's dedication to environmental education aligns seamlessly with WWF-India's mission to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

His leadership and expertise play a crucial role in fostering a deeper connection between people and nature, paving the way for a more sustainable future.