Qualifications:
MSc Erasmus Mundus Master in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems (TROPIMUNDO), Université Libre de Bruxelles/ Vrije Universiteit Brussel/ Università degli Studi di Firenze (2018)
BSc Chemistry, Botany, Zoology (CBZ), Mount Carmel College, Bangalore (2015)

Website: https://meenakshipoti.wixsite.com/storybrush
Email: meenakshipoti@gmail.com

Profile: Meenakshi is fascinated by the interactions between people and nature in small islands. Under the framework of social-ecological systems, her PhD focuses on understanding how actors (individuals, groups or organisations) and institutions respond to environmental change in islands and the conflicts that may arise. Her research focuses on the Indian Ocean region, with specific interest in the Andaman Islands. She is currently a PhD candidate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), with Dakshin Foundation.
She is passionate about science communication and amplifying the role of youth in environmental decision making. Through her project Storytelling through brushstrokes, she uses vibrant art and creative writing to communicate science and policy to a wider audience.

Publications:

• Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Ajonina, G. N., Amir, A. A., Andradi-Brown, D. A., Aziz, I., Balke, T., Poti, M.(2020). Public perceptions of mangrove forests matter for their conservation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 901.
• Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Hugé, J., Abuchahla, G. M., Cannicci, S., Jayatissa, L. P., Kairo, J. G., Poti, M.(2020). Reconciling nature, people and policy in the mangrove social-ecological system through the adaptive cycle heuristic. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 106942.
• Luypaert, T., Hagan, J. G., McCarthy, M. L., Poti, M. (2020). Status of marine biodiversity in the Anthropocene. In YOUMARES 9-The Oceans: Our Research, Our Future (pp. 57-82). Springer, Cham.
• Page, N. V., Poti, M., Ravikumar, K. (2016). Miliusa flaviviridis (Annonaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa, 255(2), 167-171.