Akshay Surendra

Age: 23

Home Town: Bangalore

Education: B.E. (Hons.) Electrical and Electronics Engineering, M.Sc. (Hons.) Physics | BITS-Pilani University

Specific Field Interests:

Placement: Data Analysis, Biodiversity Research, Science Journalism, Environmental Education

Area of Focus: Education

Highlights: Akshay had a childhood that was very close to nature and these childhood experiences have shaped him as a person. A resident of Bangalore, he is an avid bird watcher, a quizzer and a trekking enthusiast. His volunteering experience across the forests of the Western Ghats with NGOs and the Forest Department brought him close to various problems, intricacies and contradictions at the man-nature divide. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master's degree in Physics. In his third year at college, he co-founded Tripedia, a travel company that provided sustainable and off-beat tours. For his Master's thesis, he analysed human-wildlife conflict data from more than 6000 households across India in order to find species-specific patterns of conflict. He also dabbled with science journalism, writing press releases for cutting edge research emerging out the Indian Institute of Science. His current fascination is with citizen science, sustainable technology and mapping. A firm believer in institutional change, he believes that strategic scientific interventions can bring about positive change in society.