Dr. Valerie Dkhar, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Anthropology, Pondicherry University, is a cultural anthropologist specializing in Ecological Anthropology with a Ph.D. from North Eastern Hill University, Shillong from which she also pursued her Master’s degree in Anthropology. With over 19 years of teaching and research experience, she has several publications to her credentials and is a member of various professional bodies. She has participated and presented papers in many conferences and seminars and delivered several invited lectures. She has also organized numerous academic and cultural events. Her research interest lies in understanding the dynamics between culture, ecology, and economics within the socio-ecological systems (SES) framework, natural resource management, sacred natural sites and traditional ecological knowledge. She is a five-time recipient of the “Certificate of Merit in Teaching”, most popularly known as “The Best Teacher Award” (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2022), conferred by Pondicherry University. She also received the UGC-JRF Fellowship in December 2000 and stood 1st Class 1st in M. Sc Anthropology in 2001. She was awarded an ICSSR Major project on Sacred Groves (ongoing) and is presently heading the Department of Anthropology, Pondicherry University.

Social-Cultural Anthropology, Ecological Anthropology