Including evolution

Speaking about his interests Abhimanyu says,“It was my sister who initiated my interest in wildlife and nature. As a young teenager I would accompany her to the Katraj Snake Park,as she was a volunteer there. That’s how my interest in wildlife,both flora and fauna grew. My obsession with plants and animals facilitated my entry into the field of Zoology to pursue my interests in this field.”

“The Scholarship Programme that is initiated by the Field Studies Council (FSC) is done mostly to promote an interest in the field of monitoring and communicating biodiversity. The FSC itself works towards monitoring the biodiversity in the United Kingdom. The council thus invites young scientists who are below 30 years of age to come and participate in the course and help monitor biodiversity in their own nations and also form a network wherein they can reach out to fellow course members and discuss the various happenings as far the world ecosystems are concerned and also reach out to students in their own respective countries,” he adds.

Abhimanyu a student of the SP College is a third year student of the BSc Zoology course and is also an amateur wildlife photographer. Speaking about his selection for the programme, he says,“According to the criteria laid down by the FSC an applicant should be under 30 years of age,have a degree in ecology or related subjects and should submit a No Objection Certificate from the college or university where the person is applying from. In addition to this the applicant also had to send a complete CV and a letter stating the purpose of joining this course. Applications are received from the world over and of them only 23 are selected for the course.”

“The course,which is of 11 days duration,will be held from august 14-24,and will cost a total of 3000 GBP (Great Britain Pounds). However under the scholarship the council will fund programme a total of 2200 GBP and I will have to pay the remaining 800. Under the programme,we will mainly work on developing the exploration and observational competencies so as to become better naturalists,learn and understand the methods of improving biodiversity recording and develop resources and materials that will promote first hand exploration and monitoring of local biodiversity,” he adds.

“My main aim is to enable the local people from the rural parts of the nation to be able to identify various local flora and fauna and also educate them about living harmoniously with nature. Also I wish to work on developing a guide where people can identify snakes,butterflies and birds and categorise them easily. Moreover I also intent to pursue my career as a naturalist,and a wildlife enthusiast,because to put it in the words of Darwin himself ‘ I was born a Naturalist’,” he says as he signs off with a smile.