Dr Samira Agnihotri

The overarching philosophy of Samira Agnihotri's research is ‘listening ecology,’ which aims to draw attention to diverse voices – human and more-than-human, and in doing so, encourage people to listen more -- to the sounds of nature around them, and to each other. Her work crosses disciplinary boundaries, from birdsong and bioacoustics to anthropology and linguistics, and is embedded in the eco-cultural landscape of the Biligiri Rangan Hills, where she has worked since 2004 in collaboration with the Solega people.

Ongoing Projects / Research

• Principal Investigator, “Building Capacity for Coexistence: The Coexistence Fellowship Programme” funded by the British Asian Trust
  
  

• Programme Coordinator, “ಆದಿ: ಹಳೆ ಗೇನಕ ಹೊಸ ಆದಿ (Aadhi: new paths to old ways)” https://www.thehindu.com/society/international-mother-language-day-karnataka-soliga-community-language-chart-forest-sounds-tribal-people/article67857097.ece, funded by Rainmatter Foundation
  
  

• Consultant, “Indigenous co-management of Lantana-invaded habitats to restore coexistence” at ATREE

Selected Publications

• Agnihotri, S., & Si, A. (2012). Solega ethno-ornithology. Journal of Ethnobiology, 32(2), 185–211
• Agnihotri, S., Sundeep, P., Seelamantula, C. S., & Balakrishnan, R. (2014). Quantifying vocal mimicry in the greater racket-tailed drongo: a comparison of automated methods and human assessment. PloS One, 9(3), e89540
• Agnihotri, S., Kethegowda M., & Jadeswamy (2020). Do racket-tailed drongos make tree-guards for their nest trees? Behaviour https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-bja10043
• Agnihotri, S., Madegowda, C., & Si, A. (2021). Tiger becomes termite hill: Soliga/Solega perceptions of wildlife interactions and ecological change. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2 (24). https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.691900
• https://science.thewire.in/environment/call-to-decolonise-ecology-conservation-field-research/

Awards / Memberships

Deccan Herald Changemaker in 2023: https://23in23.deccanherald.com/samira-agnihotri

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