INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day Special…
Nature and science educator Chandini Chhabra blends research with hands-on learning to make conservation engaging for children and accessible to communities.
Direct experience with nature creates an awareness no textbook can replace. On International Women’s Day, Star of Mysore has been spotlighting women who are breaking barriers and redefining spaces. In a field where women are few, Chandini Chhabra has carved a niche for herself as a nature and science educator, blending curiosity with purpose.
An integral part of The Liana Trust, Chandini works at the intersection of research, education and conservation, developing curricula and resources that help communities and young learners understand the need to protect the natural world.
From demystifying snakes and promoting safe coexistence to creating hands-on learning experiences beyond textbooks, her work brings science alive while fostering a deeper connection with nature.
By Sujata Rajpal
Star of Mysore (SOM): What attracted you to environmental research, education and conservation?
Chandini Chhabra: I have always loved animals and being out in nature. As a child, I imagined living on a farm with everything from elephants to dolphins. My mother, who is a nature and science educator, was a big inspiration. In my 20s, I travelled to all seven continents, including Antarctica, and was exposed to amazing work being done in nature conservation around the world.
As a Montessori-trained teacher, I realised education could turn research into meaningful learning experiences. Meeting my husband, Gerry Martin, a conservationist and herpetologist, allowed me to translate that passion into shared work in conservation.
SOM: Much of your work involves research and educational resources. Can you explain?
Chandini: I want to bring science and nature to life for children in a classroom. To do that, I don’t think relying on Google searches or textbooks is the answer. I spend a lot of time researching the topic and meeting experts. I then translate this into fun activities, experiments, resources, books and learning tools.
I’ve written three books: ‘Snake Bite: Simple Steps to Safe Recovery’, ‘The Big Beach Clean Up’, developed with Pratham Books, which teaches basic fractions with a nature theme and ‘The Book of Wild Challenges.’
SOM: Tell us about Liana Trust that you and your husband run.
Chandini: We focus on conservation and education in rural India. One major initiative is snakebite mitigation, reducing human-snake conflict and teaching communities how to live safely with snakes. The Trust, led by my husband, works on the entire gamut of the issue, from prevention to medical intervention to post-bite rehabilitation. This includes scientific research, venom production, medical training and various other aspects. I’m involved in its outreach and education.
We also provide safety resources like boots, mosquito nets and torches, and train medical staff in districts where snakebites are common.
We aim to improve first response and hospital care, and are exploring ambulances equipped to treat with snakebite. The Karnataka Government has been very proactive, especially regarding snakes and snakebites. It is the first state in India to make snakebite a notifiable disease, meaning every bite must be reported to the authorities.
This has finally provided accurate data, which is essential for tackling the issue effectively. Previously, there was little information, making intervention difficult. Karnataka has also become the first State to mandate cashless treatment for snakebite victims, ensuring that hospitals cannot refuse care or redirect patients elsewhere. Both measures are transformative for improving safety and response in rural communities.
SOM: What is your main contribution to this work?
Chandini: I develop educational programmes, curriculum and workshops where children understand that snakes are just like any other animal with no superpowers. We bust myths, teach safe coexistence and also what to do in case of a bite. We show communities how conservation can benefit them, like biodiversity-friendly farming, connecting farmers to markets, and promoting eco-tourism.
We also set up libraries, train teachers and strengthen environmental education in local schools. Another key initiative is the ‘Living with Snakes’ exhibit.
School groups learn about snake behaviour, safety, venom, and science through fun and interactive displays. Relocating snakes is often harmful; removing a rat snake can disrupt the ecosystem or invite more dangerous snakes. We teach practical steps: Keep paths clear, cover drains, avoid leaf litter, and recognise ‘snake hotels.’ Snakes can live in fields and thickets while humans maintain safe spaces nearby.
SOM: You live on a farm near Nagarahole, away from city life. How do you like it?
Chandini: It’s wonderful. I’m living my childhood dream, surrounded by wildlife. Our farm is about an hour from Mysuru. I miss Delhi’s food but not the hustle. We have a lively team, visiting families, farm animals and lots of small wildlife, with over 160 bird species; there’s always life here.
I relocated from Delhi in 2015 and haven’t looked back. This farm was chemically intensive when we arrived, but we rewilded it into a biodiverse space, blending wildlife and sustainable agriculture.
SOM: What are your views on children and social media?
Chandini: I strongly support a ban on social media for children. Adolescence is challenging; social media intensifies pressures on self-esteem and well-being. Children under 16 shouldn’t be on platforms like Instagram or Facebook. It’s hard to do at an individual level when all their peers are on social media, so restricting access is a necessary first step.
SOM: What advice would you give young women interested in environmental research?
Chandini: Follow your curiosity and don’t let societal norms limit you. Women bring empathy, creativity and leadership to conservation. Especially in issues like human-animal conflict, female participation brings level-headedness and calm, giving me hope for a future where people and nature thrive together.
SOM: Why is environmental education particularly important today?
Chandini: With climate change and biodiversity loss, communities need knowledge to make informed decisions. With disappearing habitats, coexistence is the most important conservation practice of our time. Hands-on learning, field visits, wildlife observation and conservation projects create lasting awareness that books alone cannot.
Making nature exploration lively and accessible
The Book of Wild Challenges’ by Chandini Chhabra, illustrated by Vandana Singh, is an engaging and interactive children’s book that blends fun with learning. The book introduces young readers to the remarkable abilities of wildlife, from animals that can slow their heart rates to those that can hold their breath for days. Chandini says that the book aims to make learning about nature lively, practical and accessible for children.
With vibrant illustrations, the book also invites children to test their own abilities against animal champions through playful challenges such as jumping like a flea or smelling like a bee.
This post was published on March 23, 2026 6:10 pm