Bhaskar Vira is an Indian academic, professor of Political Economy, and the current Pro Vice Chancellor for Education for Cambridge University.[1] From 2019 until 2022 he was Head of Department of Geography, University of Cambridge.[2] He was the founding director of the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute, and is a fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.[3][4] In 2018, he was awarded the Busk Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for his contributions in the fields of environment, development and economy.[5] In 2021, he was elected to a Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences for his contributions to social science.[6]
Bhaskar Vira | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 21 July 1967 New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | The Doon School St. Stephen's College, Delhi St. John's College, Cambridge |
| Spouse | Shiraz Vira (m. 1991) |
| Awards | Busk Medal, Royal Geographical Society (2018) Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences (2021) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Political economy, political ecology, development studies, human geography, environmental conservation |
| Institutions | St. John's College, Cambridge Mansfield College, Oxford Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge |
Biography
editVira was born in New Delhi, India and was educated at The Doon School in Dehradun.[7] After Doon, he went to St. Stephen's College, Delhi for a bachelor's degree in economics and then got a second BA from St. John's College, Cambridge. He then stayed in Cambridge to pursue an MPhil and a PhD in economics and political economy respectively.[8]
Career
editWhile working on his doctorate, Vira lectured at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1993–94. After receiving his doctorate in 1994, Vira became a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Environment, Ethics and Society in Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and remained there till 1997. He then joined the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge and became a fellow and graduate tutor at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. In 2013, he became the founding director of the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute.[9][10] He was appointed Head of Department of Geography, University of Cambridge in October 2019. He regularly writes for various newspapers and magazines, including The Guardian,[11] The Independent,[12] Quartz,[13] and The Wire.[14] He was awarded the Busk Medal by Royal Geographical Society in 2018, for his interdisciplinary contributions in the fields of environment, development and economy.[5] In 2021, he was elected to a Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences for his contributions to social science.[15] Environmental issues in the Himalayas feature among Vira's varied research interests.[16][17][18]
Selected publications
edit- Vira, Bhaskar (1995). Rights, Property Rights, and their Protection: Implications for the Analysis of Environmental Policy. Oxford Centre for the Environment, Ethics & Society. ISBN 978-1900316019.[19]
- Vira, Bhaskar, ed. (2001). Conflict and Cooperation in Participating Natural Resource Management. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-0-230-59661-0.[20]
- Vira, Bhaskar; Jeffery, Roger, eds. (2001). Analytical Issues in Participatory Natural Resources. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-0333792766.[21]
- Vira, Bhaskar; Wildburger, Christoph; Mansourian, Stephanies, eds. (2015). Forests and Food: Addressing Hunger and Nutrition Across Sustainable Landscapes. Open Book. ISBN 978-1783741946.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Department of Geography, Cambridge » Bhaskar Vira, MA MPhil PhD, FAcSS".
- ^ Singh, Anisha (20 January 2020). "Cambridge-Designed Curriculum To Teach Indian Students About Water Scarcity, Climate Activism".
- ^ "Professor Bhaskar Vira | Conservation Research Institute". Conservation.cam.ac.uk. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Professor Bhaskar Vira | Fitzwilliam College Cambridge". Fitz.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ a b "RGS Medals and Awards | Royal Geographical Society". rgs.org. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Academy of Social Sciences confers Fellowships on three Cambridge academics | University of Cambridge". cam.ac.uk. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "A Legacy in Academia – The Weekly interviewed Dr. Bhaskar Vira, an Old Boy who is currently a professor at the University of Cambridge" (PDF). The Doon School Weekly (2508): 4–5. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Bhaskar Vira, Qualifications, on the University of Cambridge, Department of Geography webpage: https://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/vira/
- ^ Dasgupta, KumKum (4 June 2018). "Why Himalayan towns are on the brink of a Shimla-type water crisis". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018.
- ^ "Bhaskar Vira - Agenda Contributor | World Economic Forum". Weforum.org. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Bhaskar Vira". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Bhaskar Vira (13 February 2017). "Bhaskar Vira". The Independent. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Bhaskar Vira — Quartz". Qz.com. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Bhaskar Vira : Exclusive News Stories by Bhaskar Vira on Current Affairs, Events at The Wire". Thewire.in. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Leading social scientists join the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences | Academy of Social Sciences". acss.org.uk. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Pani, Pahar: Waters of the Himalayas". www.fitz.cam.ac.uk. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Why Himalayan towns are on the brink of a Shimla-type water crisis". Hindustan Times. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Sacred, life-affirming and fast disappearing: waters of the Himalayas – in pictures". The Guardian. 27 December 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Vira, Bhaskar (1995). Rights, property rights and their protection: implications for the analysis ... - Bhaskar Vira, Oxford Centre for the Environment, Ethics & Society - Google Books. Oxford Centre for the Environment, Ethics & Society. ISBN 9781900316019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Conflict and Cooperation in Participating Natural Resource Management | R. Jeffery | Palgrave Macmillan. Palgrave.com. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Analytical Issues in Participatory Natural Resources | B. Vira | Palgrave Macmillan. Palgrave.com. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Vira, Bhaskar; Wildburger, Christoph; Mansourian, Stephanie, eds. (2015). Forests and Food: Addressing Hunger and Nutrition Across Sustainable Landscapes. Open Book Publishers. doi:10.11647/obp.0085. ISBN 978-1-78374-193-9. Retrieved 23 May 2020.