Education at Somaiya Vidyavihar prepares students for more than just their careers. It shapes individuals who are conscious of their impact on the world, guided by responsibility, empathy, and purpose. Driven by this philosophy, the institution is cultivating a culture where science becomes a force for environmental stewardship, and students grow into thoughtful custodians of the future. This belief took form through One-Day International Conference in Biological Sciences on “Coast, Community & Conservation that brought together scientific inquiry, sustainability, and social accountability. It was designed to ignite a deeper understanding that conservation is not an academic chapter, but a lifelong commitment to protecting what sustains us. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), the conference created a vital connection between global environmental priorities and the realities of India’s coastline. Sponsored by the Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra (Mangrove Foundation), the conference brought together 127 participants from 27 institutions and three countries, including students, research scholars, academicians, scientists, and conservation professionals.

Students were encouraged to see Mumbai’s coastline as a living, breathing laboratory. Mangroves, wetlands, creeks, and intertidal zones were presented not merely as ecosystems, but as shared responsibilities that demand awareness, respect, and action.

Dr Pradnya Prabhu, Principal of K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, highlighted the role of education, awareness, and collaboration in driving conservation efforts. She emphasized that students today are not just learners but future leaders shaping sustainable coastal practices, and that meaningful conservation combines scientific understanding with community engagement and responsibility. The conference opened with a keynote address by Dr Sreenath K R, Director General, Fishery Survey of India, who reframed the way we look at India’s coastline and its communities.

The conference challenged complacency and encouraged evidence-led conservation.

Dr Deepak Apte, Director, Advanced Research Centre, DES Pune University, dismantled long-standing myths surrounding coastal ecosystems and reinforced the need for science-driven policy and practice. Adding a global lens, Dr Bhavani Narayanaswamy highlighted the far-reaching consequences of plastic pollution and its cascading impact on marine life and food systems.

Its academic depth was reflected in 30 oral and 53 poster presentations that explored oceanography, wetlands and mangroves, biodiversity conservation, pollution and bioremediation, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, community-led marine conservation, climate change, environmental toxicology, and entrepreneurship in biosciences. The work presented by students and young researchers was marked by intellectual rigour and real-world relevance, demonstrating how education at Somaiya Vidyavihar transforms curiosity into responsibility.

Through this programme, Somaiya Vidyavihar reaffirmed its commitment to education that responds to environmental challenges with depth, integrity, and intent. By uniting research, policy awareness, and community engagement, the institution continues to shape a generation for whom protecting nature is not a duty imposed but a value deeply lived. #