Consulting Editor, Down To Earth. She has been associated with the magazine since 2000 and has written extensively on health, science and food issues. She is a biologist by training and holds a PhD in Botany
Lateral Thoughts: Biodiversity management is in transition
Involvement of community in implementation of biodiversity projects is the much needed change
Lateral Thoughts: Where is the money for biodiversity?
The amendments have reduced the scope of access and benefit sharing and new thinking is needed ensure that communities are not sidelined
Lateral Thoughts: Will benefits from genetic resources ever reach communities?
Consensus on access and benefit sharing on genetic resources continues to be elusive
Merely designating an area as protected not enough, says Princeton study; here is why
It is as important to protect the areas already protected as it is to create new protected areas, say researchers
A more expanded vision is needed to promote millets
A focus on hybrids and select millet varieties limits the benefits that these supergrains can provide
Boost indigenous millet recipes over packaged products
Preparing millets fresh should be made easy instead of promoting ultra-processed packaged foods; this may be the way to bring it into …
Are millets safe from biopiracy?
2023 is the International Year of the Millets and during the year, efforts would be made to promote this superfood
Faces of protection: 30x30 goal impossible without indigenous participation
A report at COP15 Montreal on protected areas lacks qualitative aspects of indigenous land
Is India’s biodiversity getting exploited without benefits to communities?
India’s biodiversity authority could put minds at ease by increasing transparency. Otherwise, the future of biodiversity remains grim in …
Course correction: Experts point out gaps in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Letter from scientists, ecologists come at a time when it has become evident that China is dragging its feet on locking a decision
Is India ready for post-2020 global biodiversity framework?
India enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002 but it has to be implemented by states & many failed to prepare rules
COVID-19 surge: Why has China not attained herd immunity despite high vaccination coverage?
Germany, South Korea, Vietnam are also reporting increase in COVID-19 cases despite extensive vaccination
Lateral Thoughts: The uncomfortable science of booster vaccine
The disjoint between research and policy has never been so evident than in the case of vaccine boosters
The Zika virus is here to stay in India, Kanpur just latest victim
The presence of the vector and the virus together makes India extremely vulnerable to Zika
Uttarakhand farmers fall back on traditional food processing methods to boost earnings
Marketing of local varieties of food products can also increase farmers’ income
Obituary: Former health secy Keshav Desiraju fought hard against corruption in health industry
He was summarily transferred to the ministry of consumer affairs during his tenure as the health secy
Lateral thoughts: COVID-19 vaccines and a game of chance
Would you be compensated for adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines?
Lateral Thoughts: Healthy ageing was never so attractive
Accessing COVID-19 vaccine is logistically difficult for the old and sick
Lateral Thoughts: Clueless about food waste
We have no data on how much food we we waste and this derails waste management
Lateral thoughts: The price of vaccine
One more reason to improve public health system: the private health sector is not equipped to vaccinate rural India
Lateral Thoughts: We are dealing with a genius virus
The nuts and bolts of virus variants and why SARS-CoV-2 is different from other vaccine preventable viral diseases
Lateral thoughts: Holiday plans in quandary
The Chamoli disaster could affect tourism and economy, already battered by COVID-19 pandemic
Lateral Thoughts: Waiting for bad news
Adverse reactions are part and parcel of vaccination. We can know about safety of COVID-19 vaccines being used in India only after people receive …
Is India's healthcare future ready? What does Economic Survey 2020-21 point at
Failure of the existing healthcare system suggests that there is a need to rethink health policy
Lateral Thoughts: Don't blame it on the mosquito
Vector-borne diseases are complex and tackling just one aspect of the equation will not help