New Delhi

Prerana Gawde studies baitfish in the Lakshadweep Islands, filling data gaps in our current knowledge of these tiny fish, and contributing to the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in an ecologically-sensitive region.

Her work lies at the intersection of the relatively unexplored, both in subject and geography, and she’s worked hard to create a niche for herself in marine conservation. I strongly believe that to have a lasting career in the marine environment, you need a lot of passion and a never-give-up attitude. It’s all about loving what you do and staying determined along the way, she says.

The beginning of her tryst with the ocean

A word of praise from her biology teacher in school fanned the flames of her interest in the subject. It was further fuelled by her father, who encouraged her to pursue research and create her own body of knowledge. This led her to study zoology at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the University of Mumbai.

She found inspiration everywhere – from old science manuscripts in the college library to a DD Girnar (Gujarati language channel of Doordarshan) broadcast featuring Dipani Sutaria, a young researcher working on marine mammal ecology.

After completing her master’s, Prerana knew her days as a student hadn’t reached an end. However, she was unclear about the way forward, and she didn’t have support in terms of guidance and mentorship from subject experts.

She sent out emails to researchers across the biological sciences in India, from cancer research to marine biology. They were shots in the dark, but she hoped that at least one would hit the mark. And it did.