*1972 | India
Field: Natural Sciences
B.S. in Microbiology, Chemistry, and Zoology; M.S. in Biological Sciences; Ph.D. in Ecological Sciences
My work:
Director of the School of Climate Change & Sustainability at Azim Premji University
Brief job description:
Director of the School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University
Harini Nagendra
"STEM is a complex field of study, and courage and perseverance are essential qualities. Life is a long journey.
I draw inspiration from strong women who persevere despite the many obstacles society and the scientific community place in their way.
I’ve learned that it’s not about stumbling and falling, but about picking yourself up, brushing off the dust, and moving forward. Because in the end, those who persevere are the ones who succeed."
Your vision for “Women in STEM”
Did you have a clear idea of what your future would look like when you were a child?
Like many children, I lived mainly in the moment – but I knew that whatever I did in the future would have to involve writing, discovery, and creative communication. Sometimes I imagined becoming an archaeologist, excavating the ruins of ancient civilizations and learning about past lives in an environment so different from my own. Then I also wanted to become a literature professor and spend my life with Shakespeare and epic Old English poems like Beowulf. Ecology wasn’t part of my plans – chance brought me here, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Which person(s) or experience(s) had the greatest influence on your decision about what career to pursue, and why?
During my time at Indiana University, I worked very closely for several years with Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics. Although I deal with topics that sometimes seem dystopian, such as deforestation and the climate crisis, she taught me how important the power of collective action is when people come together to protect, restore, and heal the planet. That is what I am now studying in India’s forests and cities. I want to understand the social and ecological conditions that motivate people to have a positive impact on the planet.
Please tell us how your interest in your profession, field of study, or trade was sparked.
When I was in high school, I read *New Scientist* and *Scientific American*. The interviews with scientists fascinated me. I loved reading about their stories of discovery, about how their innate curiosity developed into an obsession with understanding the fundamental workings – the why and how – of a phenomenon, and then the hard work that transformed that curiosity into new knowledge. I knew that I wanted to experience that magic of discovery for myself.
What do you like most about your current job?
I have loved the challenge of building an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary group focused on climate change, ecology, and sustainability over the past five years, starting with just an idea and one person, and growing it into a school for climate change and sustainability.
Unlike in the conventional academic world, at Azim Premji University I was able to experiment with new approaches by leading urban renewal initiatives, organizing multilingual nature festivals for tens of thousands of students, and designing courses for various audiences, including nature writers, activists, and journalists, in addition to introducing new programs and conducting cutting-edge research in the fields of climate and biodiversity. It’s always exhausting, but there’s never a dull day!
If you could give young women some advice, what would it be?
Don’t let anyone tell you what role you should play in life – define yourself!
Young women receive a lot of advice from authority figures, whether at home, at university, or at work. You should decide for yourself what matters to you – stick to that and discard the rest.
Contact information
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Tel. 069 / 713 79 69-0
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Fax 069 / 713 79 69-190
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