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The Meltingpod of
Science, Culture,
and Governance.
By Albert Schiller
The Integrity of our Choices.
Arghya, however, resists the singular label of “scientist”. He clarifies that defin
ing oneself “only as a scientist can sometimes narrow the lens through which
we can view ecosystems”. While acknowledging that “Science is critical” for pro
viding tools to “measure, model and hypothesize”, he emphasizes that complex
landscapes, particularly in regions like northeast India and the Himalayas, de
mand a broader perspective encompassing “listening, empathy and cultural sen
sitivity”. He identifies himself as “more of an ecologist, yes, but also as a learner,
a facilitator, and sometimes even an interpreter between the different systems
of knowledge”. This expansive identity underscores that fieldwork teaches “hu
mility”, revealing how ecological patterns are shaped “not just by natural laws,
but by history’s people, and sometimes chance”.
The Ecologist as Interpreter
MY SUSTAINABLE ENCOUNTER WITH ARGHYA CHAKRABARTY
In a world demanding urgent ecological acton, how does a nuanced understand-
ing of systems, people, and humility redefne the very practce of conservaton?
Arghya Chakrabarty’s professional journey is rooted in a fundamental fasci-
naton for “the interface between life systems and their habitats”. This profound
curiosity propelled him towards ecological fe ldwork, driven by a desire to ex-
perience these dynamics “in situ, not just through data sets or literature”. He
realized early in his career that direct engagement in the fe ld “not only sharp-
ened scientfc understanding”, but critcally, it also unveiled a “complexity and
nuance that models or remote sensing cannot alone capture”. This includes in-
sights from “the quiet indicators. The seasonal rhythms, the local and traditonal
knowledge systems”. This multdimensional learning, grounded in observaton,
patence, and presence, draws him back to ecological fe ldwork.