Dr Veena Srinivasan, who leads the Water, Land and Society Programme at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, has been appointed to the Prince Claus Chair at Utrecht University, Netherlands. A doctorate from Stanford University, Dr Srinivasan has been named to the International Development Studies Research Centre in the Department of Human Geography and Planning at the university.
The Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity is held alternately by Utrecht University and the International Institute of Social Studies at Erasmus University, Rotterdam. It is established to advance research and education in the field of international development and equity, in line with the ideas and work of the late Prince Claus.
Dr Srinivasan is actively involved in research on sustainable and inclusive food production in Asian delta regions. Deltas in Asia are fertile and densely populated regions and are also centres of economic activity. There is an imminent need to balance the demands of food production and rapid urbanisation in deltas of Asia.
"I am honoured to have been appointed to Prince Claus Chair. It is an exciting time for research and innovation, and it's my privilege to be invited to serve in this capacity”, said an elated Dr Srinivasan. The current honour will not only allow her to contribute to similar research efforts at Utrecht but will also aid in collaboration between Dutch and Indian institutions.
Through her research, Dr Srinivasan aims to help the land use in the deltas sustainable and leaves room for food production and urbanisation. She also explores how land use can better anticipate changing circumstances due to droughts, floods and urbanisation. She believes in the need for alternative water management strategies for delta regions so that the transition is both sustainable and inclusive.
“There is a need for more involvement from the local population in the decision-making process for sustainable food production and urbanisation. I look forward to working with an incredible group of people, and to strengthen the collaboration between Dutch and Indian institutions further,” said Dr Srinivasan.
Congratulating Dr Srinivasan, ATREE’s Founder President, Kamal Bawa said, "ATREE continues to be at the forefront of scientific research with its world-class researchers and faculty. Dr Srinivasan’s appointment is a step ahead in our commitment towards pushing the boundaries of knowledge and meeting the highest standards of research excellence."
This article is based on a press release from ATREE.