In the shifting mudflats where Avicennia marina grows, tides and moving water can knock young mangroves off balance. A new study by MSSRF researchers Balasundari Dharbaranyam, R. Durgaswathi and Gayatri Venkataraman, with colleagues from St. Peter’s College of Engineering and Technology, shows how these seedlings recover.  

By forming a bend at the base of their hypocotyl and redirecting their roots, these seedlings straighten up and regain stability when they do not land upright.  

A catastrophic fire at Kochi’s Brahmapuram dumpsite turned the city into a “gas chamber,” exposing the hidden costs of poor urban waste management. 

In this chapter, MSSRF researcher Dr Prathibha Ganesan examines how unsegregated waste, weak policy, and fragmented governance fuelled repeated crises—and what it took for the system to finally address its failings, driving Kochi towards accountability and sustainability. 

Drawing on three decades of research in Kannivadi, Tamil Nadu, MSSRF authors Dr Anamika A. and Dr Rengalakshmi highlight agroecology’s incremental impact on soil health, biodiversity and the livelihoods of resource-poor Dalit women farmers. Yet it finds that caste and patriarchal structures continue to limit transformative change, calling for agroecological policies that explicitly address the land question.   

This paper underscores the importance of recognizing both the social and ecological dimensions of agricultural development.  

How diverse are our diets? Does higher income always translate into better nutrition? These were some of the key questions Dr Mudit Kapoor, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi Centre, explored in his talk. 

Introducing a dashboard built on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data, he demonstrated how data visualization can help uncover patterns in food consumption, nutritional diversity, and socio-economic disparities across India.

Data is more accessible than ever before. In her talk, Rukmini S, Founder, Data for India, delivered insights on heat, gender, labour, and income expenditure, that demonstrated how data can uncover stories.

Although no single number can capture the complexity of a country, Rukmini's talk reminded us to engage with data critically. When we read data alongside its context, methodology, and compare varied sources, we can paint a fuller, more nuanced picture of India.

Drawing from her extensive experience in climate and rural reporting, Nidhi Jamwal, independent journalist and climate reporter, explored how gender influences climate narratives, why certain perspectives remain unheard, and what it takes to build more inclusive and impactful storytelling. Amplifying diverse voices, she highlights,  can deepen public understanding of climate change and inspire more meaningful action.

She delivered the special address during the closing session of the 2026 Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship.