Talk on ecology

An Indian Ecologist in the forests of Ecuador

Talk By Anusha Shankar

Monday, December 17, 2018 at 4:30 PM – 6 PM

Venue: Xavier Hall, PG centre, St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru

“I would like to paint a picture for you of an Indian scientist doing a PhD project in the mountains of Ecuador. I will share my experiences of the joys and struggles of doing field work in a foreign country, managing a multi-national field team in different languages, and doing science in an increasingly competitive world. I will also address the importance of failure in science- I have failed a lot, perhaps more than I have succeeded! For the past 6 years, I have been studying how hummingbirds balance their daily energetic needs. Hummingbirds are tiny, and they use a lot of energy very quickly. Despite their crazy energetic needs, there are over 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America. They live in deserts, in the tropical Amazonian lowlands, and in the cold shrubby highlands of the Andes. They even migrate up to Canada and Alaska! I have learned a lot- about science, people, cultures, conservation, birds, and biodiversity, from working in four different countries, and I look forward to sharing these experiences with you! This talk will be directed towards undergraduate students, birders, and the public.” – Anusha