JOLLANG, 28 Sep: The zoology department of Himalayan University (HU) here, in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), organised a nature education workshop on the theme 'Let's Know Our Biodiversity Better' on Monday.
The programme was aimed at creating awareness among students about local biodiversity, and introducing them to citizen science, nature observation, biodiversity documentation, and digital tools for recording species.
Addressing the participants, HU Zoology HoD Dr Feroz Ahmad Shergojri highlighted the importance of understanding and documenting biodiversity through experiential learning and active engagement with nature.
The workshop was attended by Botany HoD Dr Pyonim Lungphi, Zoology Assistant Professor Dr Nending Muni, and other faculty members. A total of 38 students participated in the programme.
Experts from the NCF conducted various interactive sessions. Bird Count India project manager Mittal Gala, Bird Count India project coordinator Samakshi Tiwari, Early Bird programme manager Abhisheka Krishnagopal, Nature on Campus project assistant Prerana Chandak, SeasonWatch project manager Muhammed Nizar, and Captive Breeding manager and veterinarian Dr Leons Mathew Abraham served as resource persons.
The workshop began with an engaging Early Bird flashcard activity, followed by introductory sessions on Bird Count India, eBird, Merlin, SeasonWatch, Nature on Campus, and Nature Journaling. The sessions familiarised the students with citizen science initiatives and demonstrated how technology can be used to observe, identify, and document biodiversity.
The programme subsequently moved outdoors, where the students were divided into four rotating groups for hands-on activities. One group participated in a bird walk and practical training on the Merlin app, while another received hands-on training in the SeasonWatch app. A third group learnt biodiversity documentation through iNaturalist and participated in a nature bingo activity, while the fourth group engaged in nature journaling, recording their observations through sketches and notes.
The practical sessions provided the students with an opportunity to connect classroom learning with direct observation of nature and biodiversity on and around the university campus. The workshop also demonstrated the role of citizen science in generating biodiversity observations and encouraging public participation in scientific documentation and conservation.
The programme concluded with an emphasis on the need for students to develop a closer understanding of the biodiversity around them, and to actively participate in its documentation and conservation.
