Leading The Conservation Movement to Protect Mother Nature
September 25, 2009 —
An exclusive interview with Dr. M.A. Sanjayan, Lead Scientist at the Nature Conservancy.
One can almost always guarantee that whenever the words ‘scientist’ is mentioned, images of microscopes, petri dishes, and lab coats come to mind. And while those items are perhaps quite essential to most scientists, and indeed telling of their work, there are some scientists who work worlds apart from the strict confines of a lab. Dr. M.A. Sanjayan, Lead Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, is one such individual. As part of such a large and influential organization, Dr. Sanjayan has been one of a lucky few who have been and continue to be able to impact and help transform the many different notions about conservation practices.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is an environmental organization that strives to preserve the Earth’s ecosystems, and the plants and animals within them. TNC works towards this goal by espousing and implementing ideas and projects that protect the natural lands and waters that our planet’s ecosystems need in order to continue existing. Dr. Sanjayan, as Lead Scientist in this organization, involves himself in two separate roles. While working to find and make popular the best ideas in conservation techniques for TNC, he must also meet with individuals and organizations around the world to explain the significance and necessity of TNC’s work. As Dr. Sanjayan explained to Sri Lanka Foundation, part of his work includes making science better around a few critical areas, and the other part involves informing others about TNC and it’s objectives.
When Sri Lanka Foundation asked Dr. Sanjayan how it was that he came to work in the realm of conservation specifically, he simply said that he had had no grand plan to bring him into that particular type of work. Rather, he just pursued things that he knew he had a knack for, worked as hard as he could on those things, and jumped at the opportunities that opened up for him. Throughout his undergraduate years, he enrolled in classes from every field – English, Art, Biology, Computer Science – and in this way, was able to find which subjects he most interested and able to excel in.
Yet, even in graduate school, Dr. Sanjayan was still unsure of the career path he would take, but continued pursuing things that he knew he could perform well in. That line of thought, coupled with the notion that he would have to find the courage to jump at opportunities when they came forth, afforded Dr. Sanjayan the confidence he needed to succeed. Indeed, by strengthening his interests in school, and by taking hold of the opportunities presented to him, Dr. Sanjayan found a means of livelihood that was not only intellectually fulfilling, but one that also positively contributed to the world around him. Certainly, Dr. Sanjayan admits, there were times when he failed, but he was persistent and put those moments of lesser success behind him. His career advice in a nutshell? “If you are not willing to fail sometimes, success can be a pretty hard thing to find.”
Though he was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dr. Sanjayan’s love for nature blossomed while living in Sierra Leone, Africa. Growing up in the lush vegetation of Sierra Leone, Dr. Sanjayan had miles upon miles of land to explore and experience. As a child, he often accompanied his neighbor, Mr. Charlie Gunasekara, on trips into the forest. Calling them “mini-adventures,” Dr. Sanjayan recounts how he and Charlie would spend time in the forest tracking crocodile or hippopotamus tracks along the river banks. Thanks to all the time spent with Charlie experiencing the rich nature that surrounded him in Sierra Leone, Dr. Sanjayan uncovered a hidden interest within himself for experiencing the world around him, and this interest eventually brought him down the path that led him to work with TNC.
Even so, it was not only Charlie who had a hand in helping shape Dr. Sanjayan’s passion for the great outdoors, and eventually his career; his parents were also a great influence in this regard. Having allowed him to freely delve into his interests without harsh criticism on their end, Dr. Sanjayan’s parents enabled him to come to his own conclusions about the career path that was right for him. As he says, “I give … credit to my parents who, though I don’t think ever imagined this interest would be anything more than a hobby, gave me room to explore and make up my own mind about what I wanted to do. I wonder what would have happened if they had pushed me into a field or career that was more ‘normal.’ I probably would have hated it and been quiet bad at it.”
Dr. Sanjayan recognizes that he has been incredibly fortunate in his life to be able to discover what he was passionate about at a young age, but is also quick to recognize that having a supportive family that did not quite fully understand or agree with his decisions, but who were nonetheless willing to have strong faith in his choices, was a huge factor in bringing him to where he is today.
TNC’s reach is spread around the world, across thirty-five countries, and so Dr. Sanjayan often finds himself rather busy, shuffling from one location to another, meeting individuals and organizations, and even making time for televised documentary films. He has been involved with a few documentaries for the BBC and the Discovery Channel. Expedition Alaska, aired by Discovery Channel, had Dr. Sanjayan, along with a team of other renowned scientists, assessing climate change in Alaska’s vast wilderness. Last year, he was also involved with Discovery Channel’s acclaimed “Shark Week” television series. Apart from his involvement in televised documentaries, Dr. Sanjayan’s work takes him to countries and places where he has had a few interesting encounters with local wildlife.
From handling sharks and cobras, to rhinoceroses and polar bears, Dr. Sanjayan has seen and encountered many exotic animals. When asked if such encounters had ever proven to be dangerous, Dr. Sanjayan replied that he does not take senseless risks, and that he has always had the advantage of being accompanied by individuals who are knowledgeable about their environment and the wildlife around them. His most dangerous encounter to date, however, has been with creatures of lesser concern to most people: taxi drivers in India.
Dr. Sanjayan admits he is more frightened by driving through dangerous, narrow streets with an over-confident and speedy taxi driver in India than he is by any encounter with a cobra. While in certain jest at the stereotype, Dr. Sanjayan pragmatically expressed the stark difference by noting that the danger that exists when encountering wildlife is small when compared to getting into a car with an unknown driver. With the wildlife, Dr. Sanjayan says he has some control over the situation, whereas with the taxi driver, he has next to none. Undoubtedly, many who have ridden in a taxi or three-wheeler in any part of South Asia can understand the fear or perceived danger as you speed over half-paved roads, wondering which pothole is going to be the one that flips your vehicle into an acrobatic somersault.
Currently, Dr. Sanjayan is working on an initiative to change the way that society perceives the objectives of nature conservationists. The problem underlying this issue partly stems from the dialogue of those directly involved within the conservation movement. As Dr. Sanjayan aptly notes, if the leaders of this movement continue to speak about polar bears, blue whales, or Javan rhinoceroses, they will be unable to convince the majority of people around the world that conservation is an important undertaking to keep our world as habitable as possible for all creatures, animals and humans alike. Dr. Sanjayan is convinced that the movement is in need of what he calls a ‘paradigm shift,’ which would have the movement to clearly relate goals to alleviate poverty and promote human well-being with those found in nature conservation.
So while Dr. Sanjayan’s work is not centered around the archetypal materials associated with the word ‘scientist,’ he is a scientist nonetheless – one who is working to inform and educate people around the world about the necessity of conservation practices that will benefit them and the environment they live in. Referring to its abundant and diverse wildlife, Dr. Sanjayan notes that Sri Lanka possesses a world-class array, putting to shame other countries that are better known for their wildlife, such as Indonesia and Costa Rica. Sri Lanka, he hopes, may one day become the leading destination for wildlife-viewing and conservation practices in all of Asia.
Click here to find out more about the Nature Conservancy.
