Meet the Team

Meet the team that makes Project Dhvani:

Pooja Choksi
Scientist

Previously, Pooja could be found implementing a community-based wildlife conservation model in Pench Tiger Reserve, India. Or, in Belize where she studied the co-management framework of protected areas to explore the replicability of the framework to her home country, India. Pooja's research examines the patterns of forest degradation and their connection to land uses to create coexistence landscapes in central India. She also writes about wildlife, environment, and travel.

See more of Pooja's work here and visit her on LinkedIn .

Sarika Khanwilkar
Scientist

Sarika's research quantifies the relationships and feedback between people and their environment to develop approaches that allow forests to persist as habitat for endangered species, while providing people with products that are vital to their everyday needs. She is passionate about mentoring young science students and engaging communities with multimedia to create grassroots support for conservation.

See more of Sarika's work here and visit her on LinkedIn.

Vijay Ramesh
Scientist

From mist netting endangered passerines in the snowy Himalayas to learning the art of taxidermy for natural history collections at the American Museum of Natural History, Vijay's association with conservation and research has spanned multiple fields of study that include genetic analysis, geospatial and statistical work, and natural history. His research examines the effects of climate change and land use to shape policies which will ensure impactful conservation.

See more of Vijay's work here and visit him on LinkedIn.

None of Project Dhvani's work would be possible without our collaborators.

Research associates

Research associates support Project Dhvani's ongoing research and communication initiatives in a variety of ways.

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Research Associate

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Research Associate

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Field collaborators

Across central India and the Western Ghats, our field collaborators work tirelessly. These include research assistants, private landowners, non-governmental organisations, state Forest Departments and most importantly, local communities who are kind enough to let us work in the vicinity of their homes and lands.

Akshay Anand
Research Assistant

Akshay previously studied the ecology of the forest owlet in Madhya Pradesh, where he explored various aspects of this endemic owl's breeding biology, ranging behaviour and demography. He also worked on a survey to assess the presence of the elusive Cantor's giant softshell turtle in northern Kerala. A keen interest in understanding how animals communicate led him to the field of bioacoustics. In particular, he is interested in the drivers behind why avian species occupy particular acoustic niches.

Devendra Korche
Field Collaborator

Devendra is a student of social work, with a keen interest in botany. He has previously worked with local non-profit organizations in efforts to conserve and revive local ethnobotanical knowledge. He works with Project Dhvani scientists to collect vegetation data and understand how it relates to soundscapes.

Amrutha Rajan
Research Assistant

Amrutha’s research interests broadly include behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, landscape ecology, conservation biology and bioacoustics. She recently worked on a collaborative project between IISER-Tirupati and SACON, developing a framework for the automated detection of the endangered and endemic forest owlet using passive acoustic recorders. She is keen on exploring the biogeographical vocal variations of bird species within populations.

Siddharth Biniwale
Research Assistant

Siddharth is a geologist by training, and a naturalist at heart. He has worked with communities and NGOs for the conservation of groundwater and ecological monitoring projects in different parts of India. Along with guiding guests in wildlife viewing activities, he worked closely with the local forest department and participated in bird counts, the tiger census and camera trapping to monitor wildlife. In the sounds of restoration project, he wants to understand the impact of forest restoration on fauna using bioacoustics.

Interns

Students and early career researchers contribute valuable skills to Project Dhvani operations.

Arundhati Tewari
Intern

Arundhati is a geologist with a keen interest in ecology, and has completed field trips in the Himalayas and across central India. She has been interested in nature since she was a teenager and works with Project Dhvani to educate people about wildlife and conservation through bioacoustics. Specifically, Arundhati has worked with our researchers and communicators to conceptualize and make our online interactive maps.

Dhanya Bharat
Intern

Dhanya graduated from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and is all set to pursue a master’s at MEME. Her research interests span evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, and conservation science. Passionate about the arts, sustainability, and science communication, she is usually found in the company of books and furry friends. She brings scientific knowledge as well as extensive science communication skills to the Project Dhvani team. Specifically, Dhanya works with our researchers and communicators to identify vocalizing species from sound recordings and create engaging media for the public to share such recordings.

Risha Viadya
Intern

Risha is an undergraduate student at Azim Premji University doing a dual degree in biology and education. Fascinated by the natural world, their interests include sustainability, conservation, mental health and anything that allows them to go out near trees. Risha contributes knowledge of biology and science education to Project Dhvani. Specifically, they have worked with our researchers and communicators to translate scientific information for public accessibility, creating media for online distribution.

Advisory board

Project Dhvani is advised and mentored by Prof. Ruth DeFries.

Friends and Collaborators