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Mr. Kanna K. Siripurapu, Assistant Dean - Woxsen University

Kanna K. Siripurapu, Assistant Dean - Woxsen University, is an M.Phil and Double Masters graduate in Geographical Sciences & Environmental Sciences, with two decades of professional experience in research, academics, and development sector. He has a passion for research on biocultural diversity and strengthening of community-based natural resource governance. His focus areas include indigenous agro-ecological systems, enhancement of rural livelihoods, (agro)biodiversity conservation, pastoralism, traditional knowledge, indigenous cultures and traditions, sustainable development, and development of cooperatives & social enterprises through action research, multiple stakeholder partnerships and networking. He encourages youth of indigenous communities to write about their lived experiences and their contribution to biocultural diversity through his project "Indie-Narratives". He is the co-founder of Nayasa, a trust building digital application for organic farmers and consumers interested in buying organic products. He also teaches two courses - Material, Culture and Cognition in Product Design, and Indigenous Art, Design, and Culture, as a guest faculty, at the Department of Product Design, School of Art and Design, Woxsen University, Telangana. He also initiated and manages the All India Mangrove Alliance for Climate and Conservation, a pan-India network that works towards building resilience into the socio-economic and ecological systems of coastal regions of India.