Deserts

Dr. Chandrakasan Sivaperuman, is currently working as Scientist-E and Officer-in-Charge at the Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. He has been extensively involved in field surveys in different ecosystem of the country, i.e. Kole wetlands of Kerala, Southern Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Great Indian Desert, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He has published more than 300 research papers in national and international journals and newsletters. He also authored/edited more than 35 books published by reputed national and international publishers. He has participated in the 36th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica during 2016-2017 and carried out studies on the species abundance and distribution of birds and mammals in Antarctica.Dr. Dhriti Banerjee is a first woman director in 100 years of Zoological Survey of India history. She has an illustrious career as a scientist, conducted research in taxonomy, zoogeography, morphology and molecular systematics. She has received several national and international grants for her master's and doctoral studies. She travelled extensively across the country, studying fauna diversity in tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves and ecosystems. In addition, she is involved in a long-term study on biodiversity in the Himalayas and examines the possible effects of climate change on the fauna of the Himalayas.Dr. Basudev Tripathy, Scientist-E, works at the Zoological Survey of India Pune, Maharashtra. He has specialized in freshwater molluscs and turtles. He has more than 20 years' experience in the field of conservation biology. He has published more than 60 research papers and books in the field of corals and its associated fauna and invertebrate.Dr. Kailash Chandra is a Director (Retd.), Zoological Survey of India. He has more than 35 years' experience in the field of biodiversity conservation. He has worked in various ecosystems of our country, i.e. High Altitude, Islands, and Central India in various faunal groups especially on Coleopterans. He has contributed through various kind of publications, especially more than 40 books, 400 research papers in various journals, chapter in books and popular articles. He has guided more than 15 Ph.D. students. He has visited various Natural History Museums in different parts of the world. He also participated in the 21st Indian Antarctica Scientific Expedition during 2001-2002. He has conducted many national and international seminars, besides chairing many and delivering keynote addresses.