DK

Dr. Ravi Ranjan Kumar

Pondicherry University

ORCID iD 0000-0001-7094-4400
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About

I was raised in the landlocked state of Bihar, India, on the banks of the holy Ganges River. Sights of nets cast over the water and of pieces of fish covered in spices were the delights that I grew up with. While I was studying for my degree in fishery science, it was our professor who showed me how to really see things in a way that has transformed my life. Having made it past my graduation, I went on to discover a submerged kingdom in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands as part of my Master’s program in marine biology at Pondicherry University. I saw and stood by the vast blue expanse, marveling at the sea and fascinated by the organisms that thrive beneath the crashing waves. I went on to pursue my Master’s thesis on sharks and rays at the fish landing center of Port Blair in the Andamans. Although the study was short, it kindled a desire to continue my doctoral research on sharks and rays, also at Pondicherry University. I realized to what extent my Master’s research had been hampered by a lack of data and general awareness of the endangered species.

My path as a marine biologist, and more importantly as a human being, is to understand the status and vulnerability of threatened marine species and to educate people about the importance of the ocean domain.

Often overlooked on the world map, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands float in splendid isolation in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. With growing urbanization and threats posed by budding tourism, the island ecosystem now lies at the brink of a major crisis.

Employment

  • Pondicherry University

Education

  • Pondicherry University M.Sc. Marine Biology

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (3)