Rapid economic growth, human population expansion, and subsequent increase in consumption of natural resources have caused unprecedented environmental transformation. Yet, knowledge-based institutions in India have been slow to respond to the complexity of these environmental challenges. Most existing institutions remain tradition bound, imparting training within narrow boundaries of various disciplines. Even those programmes that are related to environmental disciplines are narrow focused, sector based, and confined to generating rather than applying knowledge. There is thus an immediate and pressing need to train a new breed of environmental leaders who can integrate concepts and ideas of natural and social sciences to strengthen the science behind conservation programmes and at the same time promote sustainable use of natural resources.

ATREE's Doctoral Programme in Conservation Science

The ATREE doctoral programme opens up opportunities for candidates from multi disciplinary backgrounds to pursue a career in Conservation Science. It is designed to impart training to research scholars, policy-makers, and managers to develop and use integrated approaches to conserve biodiversity. The programme will aim to promote interdisciplinary research and develop frameworks to integrate the tools and approaches from the disciplines of ecology, economics, sociology, and climate science. The training will aim to ensure that disciplinary rigor is not compromised when students draw upon the necessary principles from a variety of disciplines in fulfilling research and conservation objectives.

Admissions for the ATREE PhD programme, 2008 is now open. ATREE will admit highly motivated students with a background in natural or social sciences to the doctoral programme. The doctoral programme is affiliated to Manipal University, which is the institution that will award the doctoral degree. In accordance with the requirement of both ATREE and Manipal University, students seeking admission should exhibit academic excellence and display a strong commitment towards working for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.