Ekta Sharma

Dedicated environmental scientist with expertise in riverine conservation, plastic pollution, and community engagement. Proven ability to lead projects that integrate biodiversity conservation with local livelihoods. Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to sustainable practices.

• Second Prize, e-Poster Presentation, "Pathways for Community Mobilization in Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation: Case Studies from Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal", Ganga Annual Research Seminar 2018, 2018-01-01
• National Geographic Society Travel Grant, 2019
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Researcher Travel Grant Award, 2025

• Sharma, E., Ramachandran, A., Dobriyal, P., Badola, S., Koldewey, H., Hussain, S. A., Badola, R., Mapping the Distribution and Discharge of Plastic Pollution in the Ganga River, Sustainability, 17, 11, 4932, 2025, https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114932
• Nelms, S., Duncan, E., Patel, S., Sharma, E., Koldewey, H., Riverine plastic pollution from fisheries: Insights from the Ganges River system, Science of the Total Environment, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143305
• Engaging Stakeholders in Ganga Biodiversity Conservation, Project Report, Phase I: 2016-2019, https://gyanganga.ai/admin//fileupload//Engaging_stakeholders_in_Ganga_Biodiversity_Conservation.pdf
• Digital Village Micro Plans: Mainstreaming Ganga Biodiversity Conservation in Local Development Planning Using Digital Technology, Project Report, Phase I: 2016-2019, https://gyanganga.ai/admin//fileupload//Digital_Village_Microplans_Mainstreaming_Ganga_Biodiversity_Conservation_in_Local_Development.pdf
• A life less ordinary: Ganga Praharis-Guardian of Ganga, Project Report, Phase I: 2016-2019, https://gyanganga.ai/admin//fileupload//A_Life_less_ordinary_Ganga_Prahari_Guardians_of_the_Ganga.pdf
• Livelihood interventions for ensuring involvement of communities in Ganga conservation, Project Report, Phase I: 2016-2019, https://gyanganga.ai/admin//fileupload//Livelihood_Interventions_for_Ensuring_Involvement_of_Communities_in_Ganga_Conservation.pdf
• Humanscape of the Riverscape: Community-Based Conservation Programmes for Aquatic Species Restoration in the Ganga River, Project Report, Phase I: 2016-2019, https://gyanganga.ai/admin//fileupload//Humanscape_of_the_Riverscape_Community_Based_Conservation_Programmes.pdf

• Professor Heather Koldewey, Head of Ocean and FAIRER Conservation, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, +44-7767-408841, Heather.Koldewey@zsl.org
• Dr. Ruchi Badola, Dean FWS & Scientist G, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, +91 9412055986, ruchi@wii.gov.in
• Dr. Pariva Dobriyal, Project Scientist-III, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, +91 9756773361, parivadobriyal@gmail.com

• Rural Waste Under the Radar: Physical Composition and Emerging Trends Along a Biodiversity-Rich Stretch of the Ganga River, 13th International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Prevention (ICEPP 2025), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 6-8 November, 2025.
• Tracking Plastic Pollution from Land to River Along the Ganga Basin, 4th Global Summit on Advances in Earth Science and Climate Change (ADV. ESCC 2025), Vancouver, Canada.
• From Misconceptions to Realities: Unraveling Plastic Pollution in the Lower Stretch of the Ganga River, Enviro Summit 2024: International Conference on Climate Action, Ecology & Environment.
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Fishers' Folk of the Ganges, Impact of COVID-19 on Coastal Communities Workshop, Zoological Society of London, 2021
• Sea to Source - Plastic Expedition: Pre-Monsoon Survey Outcomes, 29th International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2019), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2019
• Building a Common Vision: Integrating the Role of Line Agencies in Biodiversity Conservation, Ganga Research Seminar 2019, Dehradun, 2019
• International Biodiversity Congress, 2018

Riverine Plastic Pollution Monitoring and Leakage Assessment, Community-Based Conservation, Citizen Science in River Ecosystems, Aquatic Species Conservation, Environment Auditing

• Participated in a two-day training workshop on “Participatory Methods for Socio-Ecological System Research” held at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (June 6–7, 2023).
• Completed a two-day online skill development workshop on “Mapping of Wildlife Crimes” (October 13–14, 2022).
• Earned a Global Certificate in “Climate Change and Sustainable Development”, jointly organized by Global Youth for Environment and Sustainability (India) and Bumi Buddies (Indonesia); awarded the title of Climate Advocate (October 2021).
• Participated in a seven-day workshop on “Waste, Energy, and Environmental Audit” (July 2021).
• Completed a crash course on “Introduction to Birds” organized by the Bombay Natural History Society (May 9–June 20, 2021).
• Completed 15 days of training in “Sustainable Plastic Waste Management” conducted by the School for Circular Economy, Centre for Science and Environment (2020).
• Completed a three-day Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Auditors’ Training organized by TOFTigers (July 2019).

• Client: Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group
  Role: Project Executive

Led gender and social inclusion research within waste picker communities to assess violence prevalence and awareness of gender laws.

• Client: GIZ India
  Role: Technical Support Executive

Developed frameworks for septage management and M&E systems; conducted best-practice reviews and contributed to sanitation reform projects in five Indian states.

• Client: CMC, Harihara (Karnataka)
  Role: Project Executive

Prepared DPRs for municipal solid waste management under Swachh Bharat Mission, recommending process optimization and infrastructure improvements.

• Client: Directorate of Urban Administration, Madhya Pradesh
  Role: Project Executive

Conducted feasibility studies for integrated SWM projects based on regional landfill concepts; developed communication and awareness (IEC) models under SWM Rules, 2016.

• Client: ITC Ltd., Saharanpur
  Role: Project Executive

Performed impact assessment of SWM initiatives and their influence on sanitation and livelihoods of rag picker communities.

• Client: State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM), Uttarakhand
  Role: Project Executive

Evaluated the impact of the Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, analyzing decentralization and community participation in rural water governance.

• Client: Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB), Rajasthan
  Role: Project Executive

Prepared DPRs and transaction advisory services for ISWM projects; developed CDM models and sustainability strategies for urban local bodies.