ESRAG Podcast - With Mina Venkataraman

Introduction:

00:10 Intro Admiral & Felix

Interesting news 

01:22 Felix about innovations in Senegal, electricity from pavements.

03:20 Interesting news Admiral - Mangroves - https://news.mongabay.com/2024/09/wildlife-rich-mangroves-suffer-as-indonesia-ramps-up-construction-of-new-capital/

Guest of the Episode

07:10 Guest Mina Venkataraman

Our guest today is Rtn. Dr. Meenakshi Venkataraman also known as Dr Mina, Chair of Projects at ESRAG and an esteemed ecologist from India. Dr. Venkataraman has a rich academic background in predator-prey interactions and infectious disease research. After transitioning from academia, she became deeply involved in community engagement, training marginal farmers in sustainable practices. She has also been a strong advocate for citizen science and environmental education, serving as Secretary of the Nilgiri Natural History Society. A published author and Rotary leader, she is currently focused on enhancing project impact reporting within Rotary’s environmental initiatives to showcase the collective impact of Rotarians in safeguarding our planet.

08:58 How Dr Mina found her way to Rotary. 

12:15 Journey into joining ESRAG

17:55 Explanation of role chair of projects within ESRAG

See for more information here: https://esrag.org/projects/

26:14 Dr. Venkataraman emphasizes why Rotary should prioritize mangrove projects, noting their dual impact on environmental sustainability and community resilience.

34:28 How does the background of Dr Mina in these fields influence her work with Rotary and ESRAG today.

39:40 Dr Mina answers. How to stay positive in the face of the Climate Crisis? 

41:35 Admiral: Self-medicating Gorilla’s

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23lj94mk93o

42:59 Felix: Drought in Namibia

https://www.dw.com/en/namibia-to-cull-wild-animals-amid-drought/a-70097693

43:44 Felix: Using plastic in roads

https://climateaction.africa/can-plastic-bricks-pave-a-road-out-of-kenyas/

More about ESRAG:

https://esrag.org/​​