India Field Work

For years the academic collaboration between the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER) in Pune, Maharashtra, India and the University of Cologne (UoC) offers a unique opportunity for students to broaden their academic training and knowledge in a challenging field work in India combined with a unique visit of national parks.

The guest lecture “Biodiversity Law’’ held by Prof. Dr. Shamita Kumar, a professor of BVIEER, invites interested students of all faculties to step in a unique and important field of law. Topics like biodiversity conservation law form the base on which the subsequent field work builds up.

In the past years trips to the Kaziranga National Park, Tadoba National Park or Bandhavgarh National Park offered a one of a kind field work opportunity including incredible sightings of tropical mammals like the Bengal Tiger, Elephants, Rhinos and a great variety of birds. Working with Indian students on topics like “tourism as a driver of conservation’’, “challenges faced by forest guards and officers in combatting poaching’’ or “biodiversity as a subject in schools’’ confronts the students with specific and challenging approaches to research methods and also introduces them to different methods of scientific working and environment. Visits to local villages and schools form an unrepeatable opportunity for surveys and questionnaires.

Next to academic working the students of the UoC also get the opportunity to experience the rich culture of India as well as forging new friendships that may result in academic relationships profiting academic collaborations in the future generations.

Gratitude is expressed to Prof. Dr. Shamita Kumar, Prof. Bharucha (director of BVIEER) and Prof. Dr. Kirk W. Junker for making this experience possible.