Sathyabhama Das Biju
| Sathyabhama Das Biju (SD Biju) | |
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| Born | May 1963 Kerala, India |
| Education |
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| Alma mater | University of Calicut |
| Occupation | Biologist, conservationist, herpetologist |
| Employer | University of Delhi |
| Known for | Amphibian research and conservation |
| Awards | Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2011, IUCN Sabin Award for Amphibian Conservation 2008 |
Sathyabhama Das Biju (born May, 1963) is an Indian amphibian biologist, wildlife conservationist and heads the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi, Department of Environmental Studies. He is dubbed as the " frogman of India " by media for his passion for frogs and for bringing fresh fascination for Indian amphibians. In a recent interview with Sanctuary Asia, he was introduced as "one of the world's foremost amphibian experts". In 2010, Biju in collaboration with national and international institutions launched the nationwide Lost! Amphibians of India campaign to rediscover species thought to be extinct. In 2011, Biju was the recipient of the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award for his "extraordinary passion which led to the discovery of several new species". In 2008, the IUCN recognized his "extreme dedication to discover and conserve the vanishing amphibian fauna" by conferring him the Sabin Award. In 2006, he established the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi to bring together and train young researchers in the field of herpetology.
Born and raised in rural Kerala in the town of Kadakkal, Biju did not receive a proper formal school education. He completed his master's degree in Botany from Kerala University in 1987 and obtained his first PhD in Plant Systematics in 1999 under the guidance of the late V.V. Sivarajan from Calicut University. During 1992 to 2003 he was a Scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (formerly Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute) (TBGRI) and during his brief stint as a plant systematist published seven new plant species, resolved long-standing taxonomic and systematic problems of plants belonging to the families Convolvulaceae and Rubiaceae, besides publishing several research articles and books on plants.
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