Ajay Sawant

My work focuses on translating science and solutions into stories and messages that connect with people’s understanding, experiences and values. Through science communication, youth engagement, and creative advocacy, I help communities understand environmental issues and see their role in shaping solutions. I believe we can inform action and strengthen the human-environment bond. For example, my high seas advocacy outreach work in India helped thousands learn about a treaty few had heard of (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)), and a youth policy recommendation emerged from that energy. 

Growing awareness also builds public backing necessary for governments to increase funding for conservation while holding extractive industries accountable. Sectors like fisheries and mining have historically driven much environmental degradation, so public pressure is vital to promote more sustainable approaches.

My hope for the future is that people feel curious and motivated to care for the world around them. And that protecting nature becomes a natural part of how we live and who we are. When that happens, other forms of development — social, economic, and cultural will follow in ways that support both people and the planet.

 I approach exploration as a way of understanding people just as much as understanding ecosystems. This includes examining closely how culture, personal histories, healing, education, and emotional experiences shape the way communities relate to the environment. These layers reveal why some conservation messages resonate while others fall flat, and they help me design communication that feels human, relevant, and grounded in lived reality.

I also explore how scientific ideas move through society, how they are interpreted, challenged, or embraced, and what that means for action. Much of my recent work focuses on places where empathy fatigue is common. In many developing regions, constant exposure to daily struggle shapes how people respond to environmental issues. When hardship becomes familiar, concern can quietly turn into numbness. Understanding this emotional landscape has been an essential part of my work.

This has led me to develop communication approaches that acknowledge these realities while still building optimism. I translate complex marine and climate science into narratives people can see themselves in, helping them understand both the urgency of the moment and their own agency within it. Through this, I make people feel informed, capable, and connected.