Since the turn of the century, he has worked closely with Indigenous Gwich’in and Iñupiat elders (who are among his most important teachers), and with scientists and environmental organizations to defend significant biological nurseries from oil and gas development in Arctic Alaska, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Teshekpuk Lake wetland, and the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. His current research also includes the Chihuahuan desert of the US-Mexico borderlands; the Sundarban mangrove forest of the Bangladesh-India borderlands; and global history of biodiversity and shorebirds. His photographs have been exhibited in more than fifty museum exhibitions around the world and he serves on the editorial advisory board of the recently launched books series, Global Challenges in the Environmental Humanities (Bloomsbury Academic).
Professor Banerjee has received several awards for his conservation and scholarly contributions. Most recently, he received the 2024 Globally Engaged Research Award from UNM and was appointed as the 45th Ashley Fellow at Trent University in Canada for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Globally Engaged Research Award is offered by the Global Education Office and the Office of the Vice President for Research at The University of New Mexico to highlight the dynamic international research conducted by UNM faculty and students. Bridging both national and institutional borders, internationally focused research enhances knowledge production by simultaneously broadening the investigative lens and generating a more nuanced analysis through the incorporation of global diversity. This award showcases existing activities and serves to elevate the visibility and caliber of future research by promoting the incorporation of cross-cultural perspectives and international relevance into the UNM research enterprise. The Ashley Fellowship is administered by the Colleges at Trent University and is awarded to a visiting scholar each year. The Ashley Fellow resides at one of Trent’s Colleges during their term, delivering lectures and meeting with faculty and students. The 2024-25 Ashley Fellow is hosted by Lady Eaton College, a living-learning community that values environmental sustainability, art, and civic engagement.
Professor Banerjee shared his thoughts about the award: “Over the past nearly half a century, the Ashley Fellowship brought many Indigenous and other civil society leaders, artists, and scholars from so many different academic disciplines to Trent University. I’m deeply honored and humbled to have my name added to such a distinguished list. I’m looking forward to connecting with students and faculty to discuss why visual culture and environmental humanities are essential in apprehending our precarious time – a time in which we are a witness to the intensifying biodiversity and climate crises.”
During his residency on campus from September 26-October 10, 2024, Professor Banerjee will visit classrooms, exchange knowledge with faculty, attend a college dinner, and host a public keynote address where he will discuss how art and visual culture can reframe our understanding of the biodiversity crisis, and help shape a more inclusive and just framework for conservation that honors the rights and needs of Indigenous and other rural peoples. In addition, the Centre for Teaching and Learning and Lady Eaton College invites all to join in a conversation with Professor Banerjee about his use of postcards in the classroom. Banerjee will explain how postcards can encourage active learning about the interplay between visual images, environmental activism, and social justice. Registration for in-person attendance is required by September 25, 2024.
LEARN MORE about the UNM Globally Engaged Research Awards by visiting https://research.unm.edu/awards
TO REGISTER for attending a conversation on Postcards as Pedagogy on October 1, 2024 10-11:30am, Bata 206 and on Zoom, please visit https://www.trentu.ca/teaching/workshops/postcards-pedagogy
