To get a chance to study in this brilliant classroom- This Eco-classroom is to die for. The simple classroom ambiance consists of limited chairs, walls made of mud with the natural amber paint, bamboo pillars with hay ceiling and one projector screen for convenience and ease of learning. All this makes a different environment to study in, while providing the much needed natural cooling and light. Who wouldn’t fall in love with studies here?
To realize you need no “Techie”- Getting to learn the intelligent QGIS, R, PAST softwares step-by-step is an incredible experience. The patience of teaching these skills to everyone coming from diverse backgrounds is an art that the expert teachers from Gubbi Labs have mastered over years. Not only do they teach you the principles behind the data analytics- they also hand hold you through the demo of the software and most importantly- they open your minds to the varied usages of data in ecological and other researches!
To experience the wonders of an Eco-Toilet- Woah, what? Yes, a brilliant concept of eco-toilet was fascinating for me. It doesn’t mean “In-The-Open”. Eco-toilets have a long history and the concept came from Paul Calvert of EcoSolutions. Sudhira and others of Gubbi Labs realized, at Gubbi Field Station they needed a solution to prevent sewage from entering the fresh water owing to the area’s high water table and the conventional septic tank wasn’t appropriate. With some time spent on google and other secondary research they came up with this brilliant solution to preserve fresh water, stop spread of diseases and maintain hygiene!
For Gurujee Time- Dr Gururaja KV, a very humble man studying frogs of India and the Western Ghats is a well known Batrachologist. He needs no introduction. Filled with enthusiasm and vigor, he supports students wanting to work in Ecology and gives important insights to their work. He believes “any research is an important one”. Sadly, I haven’t met too many scientists with the same beliefs. Don’t forget to check out this brilliant frog app by him! And read more about him- here
For Frogging, Birding, Lorising and much more- The course is filled with interesting field sessions sometimes with real frogs and sometimes with rubber ones- both packed with their own cuteness! The backyard of the classroom is a home for many endemic birds like Grey francolins, White-browed bulbuls and Short-toed snake eagles. These sessions are awesome to rejuvenate you while the experts from Gubbi add that missing piece with their helpful insights.
To meet like minded people- It is fun, interesting and wonderful to be in the company of people who can understand and discuss topics that you enjoy the most. Learning from each other’s experiences, getting to know their opinions and most of all discussing research topics that are absurd for many yet seem doable when discussed in depth! This is the power of beautiful people who worship nature, diversity in species and much more!
To add a whole new dimension to your research skills: Not only does this course teach you new concepts and new ideas on Ecology but it also teaches you how to apply the same to your data! We all have captured raw data and we do not know what to do with it or even how to make sense of it. So often, we are lost, not knowing which direction to take. It is at this juncture that you will remember the concepts taught to you here at Gubbi. Personally speaking- I am sure I will use the skills I have picked up here to convert the data I have collected into actual meaningful research. And get them published 😉
PS: A heart full of thanks to Dr Gururaja, Dr Sudhira, Mrs Ramya and Ms Vidisha for their contribution of photographs and other valuable information in this blog. This amazing experience definitely wouldn’t have happened without their loving support. Get in touch- Gubbi Labs