Teaching
Courses
Profile
Sunayana is the co-founder of the Climate Educators Network. Her career has encompassed policy, practice, teaching and interdisciplinary research on environment politics and practice. She has previously taught at Azim Premji University and served in advisory and mentorship roles for climate and education-focused programs. She has also worked at the German Development Institute in Bonn and the Industrial Ecology Group at the University of Lausanne.
Sunayana’s research interests lie in environmental politics and eco-centric development, with a particular focus on climate governance, forest policy, and sustainable consumption. She is deeply engaged in questions of how institutions, communities, and policies intersect in shaping just and sustainable futures. Her teaching interests include environmental politics, governance and management, public policy, and qualitative research methods. She has authored a book titled Deliberating Environmental Policy in India, and her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes.
Education
- Freie Universität, Environmental Policy Research Centre, (PhD) Political Science
- London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc.) Development Studies
- St. Stephen’s College B.A. (Hons.) English
Publications
Book
2015 Deliberating Environmental Policy in India: Participation and the role of advocacy. Routledge, UK.
Peer-reviewed Journals
“Bridging science, policy and practice for sustainability” with Sandeep Tambe , Aabha Ballal, Richa Tomar, Carina Wyborn , Ruth DeFries , Sunayana Ganguly , Lynn Scarlett. Environmental Science & Policy 145:208-216
“Exploring middle class households tastes in Metro Manila and Bangalore” Implications for sustainable food consumption practices in Asian megacities” with Saloma Czarina and Marlyne Sahakian. Asian Journal of Social Science 46 (3), 304-329
“Making sustainability palatable? Changing practices of middle class food consumption in Bangalore.” International Development Policy /Revue internationale de politique dedéveloppement. Issue 8.2
“Changing practices of water and waste management by new middle classes within gated communities in Bangalore.” with Dr Christine Lutringer. International Development Policy /Revue internationale de politique de développement. Issue 8.2
Book Chapters
“What we eat and why: narratives of food justice” with Dr Shreelata Seshadri in Eds D. Fischer et al. Teaching and Learning Sustainable ConsumptionA Guidebook. Routledge, New York
“Civil Society and State Interaction in Environment Policy in India – A Historical Typology” in Eds K. Jörgensen and L.Ollier Environment Policy in India. Routledge, London (In Press)
Annotated Bibliography
“India and the Environment.” In Oxford Bibliographies in Environmental Science. Ed. Ellen Wohl. New York: Oxford University Press.
Policy and Academic Reports
“Why a Climate Educators Network? Designing for environmental empowerment.With Arjun Atreya. Climate Educators Network
Opportunities for Restoration as a Business: Money does grow on Trees! G20 Land Initiative, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
“The Monsoon Lattice – Empowering Women, Ecologies, Economies” submitted to EnteKochi competition with the Flying Elephant Studio (awarded 4th place).
“Institutions and Public Trust” with Asha Venugopal in Society and Politics between Elections. Reports (1-3) by Lokniti- Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and Azim Premji University (APU)
Plastic Pollution and Waste Policy Evolution in India – An Overview with reference to the Seven Reforms. Submitted to the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
“Model for sustainable agri-based socio-economic development for Dantewada” with Badave, A; Ganguly, S; Kumar, D; Kumar J.S; Mallegowda, R; Naidu, P, Dikshit, S; Yadav, V. Report submitted to the District Commissioner, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
“Sustainability-oriented innovation systems: towards decoupling economic growth from2006 environmental pressures?” with Andreas Stamm, Eva Dantas, Doris Fischer, Britta Rennkamp, Discussion Paper 20/2009, Bonn: German Development Institute
Participatory communication: A study in Lakshadweep. Earthcare Films Pvt. Limited and LEAD (UK)
Public Writing and Engagement
“Connections and flows: teaching beyond silos.” Teacher Plus.
Nature writing for children – In conversation with Neha Sinha
Nature writing for children – In conversation with Aparna Karthikeyan
“What is happening to civic space in India” with Nandini Deo and Thea HilHorst (In Preparation)
“The Fruit that is a flower – Musings on Going Native in Victoria”