Dear All,

The Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS), in collaboration with the Environment Ministry and AUSDG, is pleased to invite you to the next session of the 3CS Lecture Series.

Title: Community-first knowledge circularity for a sustainable planet

Speaker: Shannon B. Olsson, PhD

Founder and Global Director, The Echo Network

Abstract:
Our planet currently faces a confluence of environmental, social and technological stressors that threaten the collective wellbeing of our people and our ecosystems. These stressors also reshape the interactions between organisms. Dr. Olsson's research has focused on how environmental change alters interactions between organisms in the Indian context — from the impact of climate change on plant-pollinator chemical communication in the Himalayas, to air pollution and urban biodiversity, to microplastic bioremediation by marine invertebrates. Such research can help society understand and adapt to these ecological stressors. Yet this knowledge rarely reaches the vulnerable communities who need it the most, while science and technology research is often initiated far from these communities, with public transfer treated as a final rather than an initial step.

This disparity inspired Dr. Olsson to found the Echo Network, a social innovation partnership initiated in 2019 by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Its 2,600 members across 46 countries span academia, government, business, NGOs, and media, and have trained over 200 students who work with thousands of community members each year. The talk will make the case that if science is to be relevant for communities, it must place diplomatic practice at the core of the scientific process itself — combining social innovation techniques and behavioral change methods with traditional scientific research to create a circular knowledge pathway that iteratively brings communities into the process of research and discovery.

Why Attend

· Go through a Sustainability Boot Camp and learn how to become a SAGE Ambassador, taking on practice-led sustainability research.

· Meet the Echo Network's founder and team in person

· See how this fits into your coursework, internships, dissertations, or doctoral research projects.

· Connect with faculty, researchers, and partner organizations from across the network

Event Details

• Date: 25th September 2026
• Time: 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
• Venue: AC-04-LR-304

Please RSVP using the form.
 

We look forward to your participation. Thank You. 

Best Regards, 

Team 3CS