Embedded Files
Investigating Invertebrate Taxonomy and the Dynamics of Citizen Science.
Research Interests
Research Interests
Taxonomy & Systematics
Taxonomy & Systematics
Focused on Formicidae (Ants) and Lepidoptera (Moths) of the Indian Subcontinent.
Citizen Science Dynamics
Citizen Science Dynamics
Analyzing how public-sourced data (iNaturalist/eBird) can supplement formal conservation records.
Ecology & Education
Ecology & Education
Studying the impact of nature education on community-led biodiversity conservation.
Current Affiliations
Current Affiliations
Coordinator for Citizen Science & Research
Coordinator for Citizen Science & Research
Task Force Member
Task Force Member
Core Member
Core Member
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Some of My Works
Some of My Works
eBird Profile Stats
eBird Profile Stats
iNaturalist Profile Stats
iNaturalist Profile Stats
iNaturalist Research Grade Observations as of 20/02/2026
iNaturalist Research Grade Observations as of 20/02/2026
Featured Projects
Featured Projects
The City Nature Challenge (CNC) has rapidly expanded across India from 2023 to 2025, leading to a surge in biodiversity observations on iNaturalist. While the volume of data is impressive, its long-term research and conservation value depends heavily on data quality (Vattakaven et al. 2022)—particularly the proportion of observations reaching "Research Grade" (RG). This study investigates patterns and barriers related to RG achievement in CNC India observations over three consecutive years using iNaturalist data (iNaturalist Community 2023, iNaturalist Community 2024, iNaturalist Community 2025).
We analyze RG percentages at regional, state, and city scales, comparing the total number of observations year by year (Fig. 1)...
Click on the link to read more!
Rapid urban expansion in Hyderabad continues to present significant challenges to sustaining urban biodiversity, particularly the intricate fauna-flora relationships underpinning city ecosystem health. To address these challenges, the Hyderabad Annual Tree Biodiversity Survey—a collaborative citizen science program led by WWF-India’s Hyderabad office—was conducted for the second consecutive year in 2025, building on the model and findings of the 2024 survey.
Click on the link to read more!
Publications
Publications
Unpacking Community Growth and Data Quality Trends from City Nature Challenge India / CitSci India 2025 National Conference on Citizen Science for Biodiversity) Citizen Science India 2025
NOVEMBER 2025 - IISER Tirupati - TIRUPATI, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIADancing with Seasons: Moth Diversity and Ecological Patterns in Aluva / Lakeview Envirothon International Conclave (LEIC) 2025
JULY 2025 - SACRED HEART COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS) - THEVARA, KERALA, INDIAKerala Heronry Survey 2023 - A Summary / Co-author
JANUARY 2025 - Malabar Trogon, Volume 22 (1-3)Study of Macrofaunal and Macrofungal Diversity in around St Albert's College (Autonomous), Ernakulam / Under Proceedings for Publishing
JANUARY 2025 - ALBERTIAN KNOWLEDGE SUMMIT 2025 - KOCHI, KERALA, INDIAExploring the Rich Tapestry of Ant Diversity in Semi-urban and Urban Regions of Ernakulam, Kerala / Under Proceedings for Publishing
JANUARY 2025 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RECENT TRENDS IN BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND SOCIETY (RTBCSSFS 2025 - MAHARASHTRA, INDIAExpanding Biodiversity Awareness in Asia : Insights from the 2024 Asia Nature Challenge / CitSci India 2024 Conference
DECEMBER 2024 - CITSCI INDIA 2024 CONFERENCE - KOCHI, KERALA, INDIAStudy of Ant Diversity in and around St Albert's College (Autonomous), Ernakulam / ISBN Number : 978-81-966818-5-2
JANUARY 2024 - ALBERTIAN KNOWLEDGE SUMMIT 2024 - KOCHI, KERALA, INDIAAnt Diversity Patterns Across Ecological Gradients in Ernakulam, Kerala / Masters Project
AUGUST 2023 - MARCH 2025 Master of Science in Zoology, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Fieldwork Hazards
Fieldwork Hazards
Hours spent staring into dirt? 4000+
Percentage of my hair containing forest debris ~ 15%
Current 'Ant vs Ashwin' bite score? Ants are winning.
Looking for Collaboration?
Looking for Collaboration?
I am actively engaged in biodiversity research and am preparing for doctoral studies. If you are interested in discussing my work with The Naturalist School or the IUCN Task Force, feel free to:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse