Siddharth Pati to get Biju Patnaik Wildlife Conservation Award for conserving Horseshoe crab

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has selected renowned biotechnologist and conservationist Dr. Siddharth Pati as the recipient of the prestigious Biju Patnaik Wildlife Conservation Award 2024 for his exceptional contribution to the conservation of horseshoe crabs. The announcement was made by the Department of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change.

Dr. Pati will share the award with Shailendra Narayan Satpathy of Balangir at a grand function to mark Wildlife Week, scheduled to take place in the first week of October in Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Siddharth Pati, a leading expert in horseshoe crab conservation, has an impressive academic and research background. He earned his Master’s and PhD in Biotechnology from Fakir Mohan University, supported by a Department of Atomic Energy research fellowship. He later pursued postdoctoral research at the University Malaysia Terengganu and collaborated with renowned institutions, including Fakir Mohan University, Khallikote University, and Udayana University in Indonesia.

With over 70 published papers in national and international journals, Dr. Pati has also edited three widely-read books on applied science, contributing significantly to the life sciences field. His work has been recognized internationally through several funded projects, supported by organizations like the Rufford Foundation (UK), WWF India, and Ideawild (USA).

Notably, Dr. Pati produced the world’s first silent clay art film, A Day for Living Fossil, to raise awareness about the biomedical and ecological significance of horseshoe crabs. His innovative approach has garnered widespread attention, and he has been invited as a visiting researcher to prestigious institutions like the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore.

The Biju Patnaik Wildlife Conservation Award is one of the most prestigious honors in Odisha, recognizing individuals who have made remarkable efforts in preserving and protecting wildlife. Dr. Pati’s selection underscores his dedication to both scientific advancement and conservation, with a particular focus on the critically important horseshoe crabs, which play a vital role in marine ecosystems.