Alark Saxena
195 Prospect St #125
New Haven, CT
06511
Mobile: 203-887-6237
Email: alark.saxena@yale.edu
alarksaxena@gmail.com
A research scholar interested in issues of sustainability, global change and natural resource
management with experience in disaster risk reduction and socio-ecological resilience,
international climate negotiations, eco-tourism, community forest management and biofuels.
With research experience in South Asia and Caribbeans.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lecturer
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, (May 2015 - Present)
Assoc. Research Scientist Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, (May 2015 - Present)
Prog. Director Himalaya Initiative, Yale University
Program development and management with special emphasis on research
collaborations. (August 2014 – Present)
Summit Coordinator- US-India Energy Partnership Summit, the Energy Resources Institute, North
America. Planning and executing the second annual energy summit between US and
India (May - September, 2010)
Ex. Director
Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative, Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry, Yale
University, Initiating and promoting disaster risk reduction programs within the academic
community at Yale with focus on climate change adaptation and risk reduction issues
(May 2007 – July 2008).
Consultant
World Resource Institute (WRI), Washington DC.
Helped in defining niche research area for WRIs newly formed Vulnerability and
Adaptation division (June 2007- August 2007).
Consultant
WWF- American Red Cross - IUCN partnership, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Helped in establishing the partnership, worked on identification of ways to incorporate
natural resource management for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
(Feb 2007)
Advisor
Permanent Mission of Dominica to United Nations, New York,
Advised on Second committee issues on Sustainable development, Part Time (2005-06)
Intern
UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and UN Sec. Gen. Office of the
Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery – United Nations, New York
Worked on the report “Involvement of Private Sector in Tsunami affected countries”, and
“Disaster Risk Reduction strategies adopted in Tsunami affected countries”, (June –
Sept 2006)
Detailed CV of Alark Saxena
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Research Assistant --Transnational Governance Project, School of Management, Yale University,
Analyzed various organizations like ILO, ITTO, (June 2006 – May 2007)
Editorial Assistant-- Journal of Sustainable Forestry, Yale University,
Responsible for manuscripts management for publication, (August 2005—May 2006)
Project Associate-- Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, India
Implemented the research project "Forest Grazing and Livelihood”, funded by Ministry of
Environment and Forest. Responsible for project management including field research,
data collection, analysis and report writing, (May 2004 – April 2005)
Project Coordinator-- Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Balaghat, India
Implemented the Golden Jubilee Rural Self Employment Scheme of the GoI and other
state-sponsored Livelihood Projects including Micro-planning. Responsible for new
project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, (May 2003–April 2004)
COURSES
1. Understanding and Building resilience in developing countries: First taught in Spring
2016.The course focuses on providing in-depth understanding of the theories around resilience
and how they are applied in practice around the world.
2. Himalayan Diversities- Environment, Livelihood and Culture: online course: the course first
taught in Spring 2014 is an interdisciplinary course that discusses Himalayan Diversities
through the lend of Environment, Livelihood and Culture
3. Modeling a Complex world: Society, Ecology and Climate (to be proposed for fall 2016):
The course will provide students with the ability to conceptualize and integrate social and
natural systems in a quantitatively rigorous way. It will provide hands on training to
conceptualize and develop models that can deal with simultaneous equations, non-linearity and
emergence.
RESEARCH PROJECTS (Principal Investigator)
1. Integrated Landscape and liveilhood Management System (Phase I): (Completed
March 2016): Subcontract of USAID India.
2. Developing novel Framework to evaluate transboundary flood resilience: (Sept
2016): Lutheran World Relief
3. Landslide Hazard Risk Map for Nepal: (September 2015- December 2015)
Partnership with ICIMOD
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EDUCATION
Ph.D. – 2015
Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT

Dissertation topic – Evaluating the resilience of local livelihood strategies to change
in a socio-ecological system

Concentration: Social Ecology, Complex systems, System Dynamics, Sustainable
Livelihood Framework , Natural Resource Management
Master of Environmental Management --2007
Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT

Concentration: Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate
Change Adaptation, Environmental Policy, Bio-fuels
Post Graduate Diploma (MBA) in Forestry Management --2003
Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, India

Special Courses: Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Geographic Information
System (GIS), Environment Auditing and Accounting (EAA), Watershed
Management, Project Management.
Bachelor of Science -- 1999
Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India, Major: Geology, Mathematics and Physics
PUBLICATIONS

Saxena, A, B. Güneralp, R. Bailis, G Yohe and C Oliver (2016) “Evaluating the resilience of
forest dependent communities in Central India by combining the sustainable livelihoods
framework and the cross scale resilience analysis” Current Science. 110 (07): 1195-1207

Saxena, A. (2015) “Evaluating the resilience of rural livelihoods to change in a complex
social-ecological system: A case of village Panchayat in central India” Doctoral Dissertation

Saxena A (2015) “Nepal Earthquake: A prelude to a bigger disaster”, Yale Global Online (OPED).

Saxena, A, V Sharma, S Rachuri, H Joshi (2015) “Climate Change and Business Strategies:
The Case of Automobile and Associated Ancillary Sectors in Madhya Pradesh” The journal of
Business Strategy

Saxena, A. (2011) “Climate Change Resilience: can Joint Forest Management help Indian
forest and communities? – Journal of Resources, Energy and Development, TERI Volume 8 (2)

Saxena, A (2011) “Tackling Climate Change in a complex world through Resilience: Looking
at data needs and challenges” Proceedings of the National Seminar on Environmental PollutionData Gaps and Availability, March, 2011, Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, India.

Kala N and A Saxena (2010)”Maintaining Momentum post Copenhagen”, Yojana Vol. 54
Planning Commission of India.

W.M. Collier, K.R. Jacobs, A. Saxena, J. Baker-Gallegos, M. Carroll, and G.W. Yohe (2009)
“Strengthening Socio-ecological Resilience through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate
Change Adaptation”, Environmental Hazards Journal, 8: 171-186

Saxena A (2007) “Feasibility of Coconut Oil as Biodiesel in Dominica”, Proceedings of the 4th
International Conference on Biofuels, Organized by Winrock International, New Delhi, India, Feb 1Detailed CV of Alark Saxena
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2, 2007.

Bhattacharya, A, Y Dubey and A Saxena (2005) Book Chapter “Ecotourism Potential in Madhya
Pradesh” in the book titled Ecotourism and Livelihood, Concept Publishers, New Delhi, India.

Saxena, A (2004) “Evaluating the Ecotourism Potential of some select sites in Madhya
Pradesh, India”, Tourism Development Journal, Shimla, India, 2004.
White Papers on:
Saxena A (2012) Impact of tourism Dynamics on livelihood strategy in Sagarmatha National park, Nepal
Saxena A (2010) Petroleum or Biodiesel- a comparative analysis for Dominica (used for Parliamentary
debate) in Dominican parliament
Saxena A (2008) Prioritizing the risks and defining the risk management strategies for Dominica
Saxena A (2004) Impact of Forest Grazing Policy on the Livelihoods of the Pastoral Community in India
CONFERENCES ORGANIZED
2009- A Systems Approach to Socio-Ecological Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction: Prioritizing the
Gaps in a Changing World
GLOBAL CONFRENCES ATTENDED
UNGC (2016) UN Global Colloquium of University Presidents for Preservation of Cultural heritage in
Crises. Presentation on “Planning for Uncertainty”.
UNFCCC CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP)
COP 18- DOHA – Lead Yale Delegation for organizing various events in and around the COP for
effective negotiation.
COP 16 – CANCUN: Lead Yale university delegation for providing back support to small island states
and other NGOs
COP15 –COPENHAGEN: Lead Yale University student’s delegation- The largest student representation
at any COP. Provided back-end support to small island countries for negotiation.
COP 14- POZNAN: Participated as special aid to Small Island Nations for the purpose of negotiation.
Fieldwork

Field Training: Six weeks field attachment with Orissa Forest Department; prepared Management
Plan for Konark Balukhand Wild Life Sanctuary.

Organizational Training –I: Sewa Mandir, Udaipur, Rajasthan; pre-Implementation study of Medi
Watershed (Developing Criteria & Indicators) and study of factors responsible for the success of
Self Help Groups at Jhadol Block, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Organizational Training - II: Madhya Pradesh Minor Forest Produce Federation, Bhopal, M P to
study the Ecotourism Potential In Madhya Pradesh
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TRAININGS IMPARTED

FDA Training – Training Field officers on the issues of JFM and in Orissa (2003)

FDA Training- Training of Field Officers on the issues of JFM in District Madhya Pradesh (2003)

JFM Training - Training to Field officers on issues of JFM Balaghat District Madhya Pradesh (2004)
OTHERS

Achievements/Honors: New England Karate Champion (2010); Black Belt in Karate (1999); NCC
Best Cadet, Best Skeet Shooter for No.2 MP Air Squadron, Bhopal (1998); Awarded Governor’s
Scout badge (1995); Silver Medalist in International Karate Championship (1994);

Associations at Academic institutions: Representative in the Student Affairs Committee at Yale
(2008-09); Founding member of the Disaster Students Interest Group at Yale (2006-07), Sports
Secretary at Indian Institute of Forest Management (2001-03), Prefect Campion School (1996).

Other Associations: Coordinator of the Indian Youth Climate Change Road Trip (2008); Joint
Secretary, Bhopal District Karate Association (2002-present);Executive Member, MP Kayaking and
Canoeing Association (2001-2005); Working Member of Executive Body, Kennel Club of India
(1999-2001),

Hobbies: Yoga, Trekking, Kayaking and Canoeing, Dog Breeding (Doberman), Currently pursuing
Private Pilot License at Yale
Languages



Hindi – Native
English, Urdu - Fluent
Spanish, Nepali – Basic
Media – Interviews/ quotes

The Future of the Past: Protecting endangered antiquities (04/2016)
http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-future-of-the-past/article/2001977#.VxkhZc_4Yx0.twitter

Yale Himalaya Initiative, F&ES Map Risks in Post-Earthquake Nepal (03/2016)
http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/yale-himalaya-initiative-maps-risks-in-post-earthquakenepal/

Yale Prof brings innovative forest planning tools (09/2015)
http://www.indiapost.com/yale-prof-brings-innovative-forest-planning-tools/

Bad News, Rich Culture: Looking Beyond the World News Headlines , WNPR (05/2015)
http://wnpr.org/post/bad-news-rich-culture-looking-beyond-world-news-headlines#stream/0

Tourism in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, (06/2013)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOdlSCFpCeo

Ecuadorian environmentalist pledges preservation (10/2012)
http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2012/10/09/ecuadorian-environmentalist-pledges-preservation/
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
Emerging issues of sustainability, (05 2010)
http://www.fivewinds.com/?action=show&lid=IM16P-VN3XY-GJBCR

Interviewed On Yale Study on Perception on Climate Change, (01/ 2010)
http://whereweblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/yale-study-shows-americans-care-less-believeless-in-climate-change/

At Yale School of Forestry – regarding the curriculum. (02/ 2009)
http://environment.yale.edu/dynamic/index.php/playlists/player/alark-saxena
Online links:
Yale: http://environment.yale.edu/profile/alark-saxena/research
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alark-saxena/b/50b/192
Climate Solutions Road Tour in India: http://www.indiaclimatesolutions.com/node/40
Reference:
Prof. Peter Crane
Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dean of the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and Professor of Botany.
peter.crane@yale.edu, 203-432-5109
Prof. Chad Oliver
Pinchot Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Director of Yale‘s Global Institute of
Sustainable Forestry, chad.oliver@yale.edu, +1-203-432-7409
Prof. Timothy Gregoire
J. P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr., Professor of Forest Management at School of Forestry and Environmental
Studies, Yale University. timothy.gregoire@yale.edu, +1-203-432-9398
Prof. Robert Bailis
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies robert.bailis@yale.edu, +1-203-432-5412
Prof. Gary Yohe
Huffington Foundation Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies, Wesleyan University
gyohe@wesleyan.edu, +1-860-685-3658
Prof. K. Sivaramakrishnan
Dinakar Singh Professor of India and South Asian Studies, Professor of Anthropology and Forestry &
Environmental Studies, Yale University, k.sivaramakrishnan@yale.edu, +1-203- 432-3684
Dr. Burak Guneralp
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University,
bguneralp@tamu.edu, +1-979-862-4487
Detailed CV of Alark Saxena
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Detailed CV of Alark Saxena
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