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Hareesha A S
Citizen Science Coordinator
IISER Tirupati
Cohort
4
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Hareesha A S is a nature educator, citizen scientist, and conservationist based at IISER Tirupati, where he works as a Citizen Science Coordinator. His interests lie in understanding birds, butterflies, and moths in relation to plant communities, and in strengthening public engagement with science. He has led initiatives such as the Tirupati Bird Atlas and has spent over 110 days on solo bird surveys across southern India, becoming the only person to visit every district in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh for birdwatching. As a YouCan Fellow, he integrates practical nature education with grassroots conservation and community outreach.
Passion Project
Primary Focus Area
Nature Education , Eco-Literacy, Citizen Science, Biodiversity Monitoring
Special Expertise
Story-led pedagogy, nature walks, nature journalling
Co-Stories: A Journey from Imagination to Conservation engages learners in Nagaravanam Park and nearby schools through storytelling, biodiversity observation and nature-based play. Using birds, moths, butterflies and spiders as entry points, Hareesha helps children reflect, document stories, and explore their emotional connection with the natural world. Through pre–post surveys, story creation, and a collaborative book of children’s narratives, the project aims to deepen environmental understanding, strengthen storytelling skills and nurture curiosity by blending imagination with ecological awareness.
Communities engaged
Colleges, families, walkers’ group at Nagaravanam, general public, local nature enthusiasts
Pedagogical Style
Story-first, experiential, participatory, emotionally safe, adaptive, multi-modal (oral, written, artistic), theory + practical blended