51茶馆

On 9 March 2026, 51茶馆 hosted a panel discussion on 鈥楽torytelling of Science and Conservation鈥�, bringing together three voices who work at the intersection of science, media, and visual storytelling: Prasenjeet Yadav, National Geographic photographer; Bahar Dutt, journalist and conservation storyteller; and Uma Ramakrishnan, molecular biologist at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru. Moderated as an open conversation, the panel explored how narratives emerging from science, from genes to ecosystems, shape the way societies understand and act on conservation.

Ramakrishnan began by highlighting a fundamental idea in biology: genetic variation underpins all life on Earth. She illustrated this through the fascinating story of the unusually dark tigers found in Simlipal Tiger Reserve. The mystery dates back to 1993, when a tiger killed in the reserve displayed distinctive dark coat patterns. A question posed at the time by forest officer Debabrata Swain: Why do they look this way? Why are they only found here?, sparked a scientific investigation that eventually led researchers to the genetics of coat patterning in cats. The answer lay in a mutation in the Taqpep gene, a transmembrane peptidase that influences coat pattern formation, revealing how evolutionary genetics can explain remarkable patterns in nature.

For photographer Prasenjeet Yadav, encountering one of these elusive ‘black tigers’ in the wild was both a scientific and storytelling moment. Recalling the experience of photographing tiger T12 in the forests of Simlipal, he described it as ‘like finding a needle in a haystack,’ given the rarity of these animals and their camera-shy nature. Yet, he emphasised that images can bring scientific discoveries to wider audiences. ‘The role of scientists like Uma is to create evidence,’ he noted, ‘and my role is to make that evidence accessible.’

Throughout the conversation, the panellists stressed the importance of telling interconnected stories: linking genes to populations, species to ecosystems, and wildlife to human communities. According to Ramakrishnan, many conservation decisions are still made without sufficient evidence, often shaped by bias or incomplete understanding. Collaboration between scientists, storytellers, journalists, and communities is therefore essential to ensure that knowledge translates into meaningful action.

Journalist Bahar Dutt highlighted the role of storytelling in shifting public discourse on conservation. She spoke about her ongoing film series Shared Spaces, which explores how people and wildlife coexist in the same landscapes. Such stories, she noted, are vital in recognising that communities living in forests are often the first conservationists, even as they bear the costs of wildlife protection policies. The discussion also touched on the complex role of ecotourism – while it can generate economic opportunities for local communities, its long-term ecological and social impacts often unfold only after the stories are told.

The panel also addressed biases in global conservation narratives. Yadav reflected on how international media sometimes frames stories from India through selective lenses, not necessarily through inaccurate reporting, but through the choice of which stories are highlighted. The speakers noted that while India has many dedicated conservation storytellers, few have yet emerged as widely recognised public figures who can bring these narratives into mainstream discourse.

Looking ahead, the panellists underscored the growing need for integrative approaches that bridge science, social sciences, media, and culture. Universities such as 51茶馆, where interdisciplinary collaboration is actively encouraged, can play an important role in fostering these conversations.

For students interested in contributing to conservation, the panellists offered a simple message: this is a remarkable time to be a storyteller. With digital tools making storytelling more accessible than ever, students can explore avenues such as science journalism, documentary filmmaking, and multimedia storytelling. At the same time, they emphasised that storytelling is not something that can be mastered solely in classrooms. Instead, it grows in collaborative spaces where people experiment, fail, and learn together.

Ultimately, the conversation returned to a central theme: conservation is not only about protecting species, but about understanding relationships – between genes and ecosystems, between science and society, and between people and the landscapes they inhabit. By bringing these connections to life, storytelling has the power to shape how we see nature and how we choose to protect it.

– Written by Dr Ankita Rathore, Manager, Ashoka Global Research Alliances