HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 26: A four-day summer nature workshop titled ‘Nature Detective 2025’, organised by biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, concluded in Guwahati with a strong emphasis on forensic science, wildlife tracking, and environmental education.
Organised under Aaranyak’s Student Engagement Learning Programme, the workshop was held from July 22 to 25 and aimed to foster curiosity and scientific awareness among young students by introducing them to eco-exploration and conservation-based learning.
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According to an official statement from Aaranyak, the workshop brought together over 50 participants comprising school and college students, researchers, budding biologists, and nature enthusiasts.
The highlight of the event was the interactive session held on July 24 with eminent forensic scientist Dr Padmapani, the only individual from Northeast India to hold a PhD in forensic science.
Dr Padmapani, who retired as Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Assam, shared insights from his over three-decade-long career and elaborated on the role of forensic science in solving wildlife crimes.
He underlined the necessity of instilling values of empathy and compassion for nature in the younger generation and stressed that a holistic understanding of science must go hand in hand with character-building.
The workshop was also attended by All India Radio anchor Shikha Mahanta, who lauded Aaranyak’s continued efforts in biodiversity conservation. Aaranyak’s Secretary General and Executive Director, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, in his welcome address, praised the enthusiasm of the participants and expressed appreciation for their commitment to spending their summer holidays learning about nature and conservation.
Jayanta Kumar Pathak, Assistant Director of Aaranyak’s Environment Education and Capacity Building Division, informed that the workshop was designed to provide early exposure to STEM and develop practical science skills through creative activities based on wildlife themes.
Participants engaged in an array of activities that introduced them to the basics of forensic science, wildlife tracking, and plant-based investigations.
These included innovative sessions such as “Whose Track Is That?”, “Who Dung It?”, “Plaster of Paris (POP)”, “Wild Clues – Tracks, Furs and Feathers”, “The Leaf Code – Secrets Hidden in Plants”, “Mystery at Nature Scene – Solving Eco-Crimes”, and others, all tailored to teach identification of animal signs, forest trails, and the analysis of natural evidence as tools for conservation and crime detection.
The workshop concluded with an educational field trip to the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, where students went on a guided nature trek.
They also explored the Nature Learning Centre, led by zoo biologist Pranjal Mahananda.
Upon successful completion of the workshop, all participants were awarded certificates.
The event was supported by the Mobius Foundation as part of its outreach initiatives aimed at engaging school students in environmental stewardship.
The sessions and coordination were led by Aaranyak’s Assistant Director Jayanta Kumar Pathak and Project Coordinator Prajnyan Sarma, along with Young Professionals Andrew Roy, Dipankar Mazumder, Disha Haloi, Geetashree Sarma, Jyotismita Kashyap, Kaushik Ranjan Saikia, Purba Paul, and Purna Paul. Intern Danish Hussain also contributed to the successful execution of the event.
