Sathyabhama Das Biju

Sathyabhama Das Biju (SD Biju)
BornMay 1963
Kadakkal, Kerala, India
Education
Alma materUniversity of Calicut
Occupation(s)Biologist, conservationist, herpetologist
EmployerUniversity of Delhi
Known forAmphibian research and conservation
AwardsKerala Sree 2022,

Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2011,

IUCN Sabin Award for Amphibian Conservation 2008

Sathyabhama Das Biju (born May, 1963) is an Indian amphibian biologist, wildlife conservationist and heads the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi, Department of Environmental Studies and is currently in Harvard University as a Radcliffe Fellow at the Radcliffe Institue for Advanced Study.[1] He is dubbed as the "Frogman of India" by media for his passion for frogs[2] and for bringing fresh fascination for Indian amphibians.[3]

In 2010, Biju in collaboration with national and international institutions launched the nationwide Lost! Amphibians of India[4] campaign to rediscover species thought to be extinct. In 2011, Biju was the recipient of the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award[5] for his "extraordinary passion which led to the discovery of several new species". In 2008, the IUCN recognized his "extreme dedication to discover and conserve the vanishing amphibian fauna" by conferring him the Sabin Award.[3] In 2006, he established the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi to bring together and train young researchers in the field of herpetology. Currently, Biju is a Senior Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies University of Delhi. He is also an Associate of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) and the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.[6][7] In 2022, he was honoured with Kerala Sree Award, third highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala.[8] A Radcliffe Hrdy fellow,[9] Biju has also served as the Dean, Faculty of Science and Head, Department of Environmental Studies at University of Delhi.[10] He was elected as a fellow to the Indian National Science Academy in 2023.[11]

  1. ^ https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/people/sathyabhama-das-biju
  2. ^ "India's maverick 'frog man'". BBC. 22 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b IUCN/ASG Sabin Award 2008
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference LAI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Sanctuary Asia "Wildlife Service Award" 2011 |http://www.theearthheroes.com/the-awards/2011-awards/191-sathyabhama-das-biju
  6. ^ https://mcz.harvard.edu/people/sathyabhama-biju
  7. ^ "Biju Sathyabhama Das". oeb.harvard.edu. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Kerala declares 1st-ever Padma-inspired awards; MT gets highest honour". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. ^ https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/people/sathyabhama-das-biju
  10. ^ https://people.samarth.edu.in/index.php/profile/user/index/DU/n7o
  11. ^ https://insaindia.res.in/indian-fellows-2/