About Charuta's Work
Charuta is an earth scientist and a passionate educator with extensive research and teaching experience across three continents. Building upon scientific training in Geology, Archeology, and Ecosystem Science, she examines social-ecological systems through a long-term lens and “translates” science into inclusive management solutions. Following post-graduate degrees from Savitribai Phule Pune University (erstwhile, University of Pune) and Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, India, Charuta received PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from City University of New York, USA, studying the role of climate change and medieval societies in transformations of Danube Valley, Serbia. She held the prestigious European Union Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, where her research “Project EARNEST” assessed the resilience of Western Ghats agroforestry landscapes and offered effective fire and ecosystem management strategies in light of India’s National Agroforestry Policy. Charuta continues interdisciplinary research; some of her ongoing work includes examining the fires of Central Indian forests, developing an ecosystem model for India’s urban heritage, and improving biodiversity performance of the private sector. She is equally invested in knowledge exchange, gathering 15+ years of teaching, mentoring and consultancy experience, working with various academic institutions, governmental organizations as well as non-profits in India, US, Europe, and Japan. Currently, at Indian Institute of Technology Madras’s School of Sustainability, Charuta works as a “Science-Policy Facilitator”, actualizing innovative teaching, research and stakeholder engagement programs in the field of Sustainability.