- BSc Zoology, University of Kerala, 2007
- MSc Environmental Biology, University of Delhi, 2009
- MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2010
- PhD Resources Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, 2022
BIO
Helina Jolly is an Interdisciplinary environmental researcher, National Geographic Explorer, and Documentarian whose work lies at the interface of people and nature. At the center of her research are these three questions:
- How do human societies understand, measure, and engage with the environment?
- What knowledge systems, histories, lived experiences, and worldviews shape their relationship to nature?
- How do these 鈥渨ays of knowing & engaging鈥 help communities to experience and adapt to contemporary environmental challenges and changes?
She has worked with hunter-gatherers in the Western Ghats in South India, farmers in Sri Lanka, and berry pickers of Miawpukek First Nation in Canada on topics ranging from wildlife coexistence, cultural burning, traditional livelihoods, and biocultural food systems.
Through ethnographic studies, participatory mapping, qualitative (interviews, observations), archival analysis, and quantitative approaches, Dr. Jolly explores how people鈥檚 knowledge systems and experiences can support contemporary land management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration approaches. She actively engages creative ways of weaving in scholarship, community engagement, and science communication through art, documentaries, and podcasts. Dr. Jolly also produced , an ethnographic documentary capturing some key research insights, and has hosted , a podcast series.
Dr. Jolly has lived and worked in four countries, with communities from diverse cultures and geographies. She has collaborated with experts from different disciplines, including anthropology, geography, animal behaviour, and ecology. In addition to her work, she brings extensive professional experience working as an advisor and policy analyst with development banks, NGOs, and government organizations.
In her free time, Helina enjoys spending time with her family, playing video games, catching up on her painting, or discovering new local cafes and restaurants.
Courses
WFB 3990 Human Wildlife Coexistence
Publications
Awards and Achievements
Social Sciences Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024)
Social Sciences Humanities Research Council 鈥 IDG (2023)
British Columbia Graduate Award (2020)
National Geographic Explorers Grant (2019)
Public Scholars Award (2019)
Nehru Humanitarian Award (2016)
Institute for Asian Research Graduate Award (2018)
Four Year Doctoral Fellowships (2016 鈥 2020)
Commonwealth Scholarship (2009)
Dr. Jolly is a member of the following organizations:
Area(s) of expertise
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Community-engaged Research, Conservation Sciences, Human Geography, Ethnography, Biocultural Systems, Land Stewardship, and Ecosystem Restoration
Bio
Helina Jolly is an Interdisciplinary environmental researcher, National Geographic Explorer, and Documentarian whose work lies at the interface of people and nature. At the center of her research are these three questions:
- How do human societies understand, measure, and engage with the environment?
- What knowledge systems, histories, lived experiences, and worldviews shape their relationship to nature?
- How do these 鈥渨ays of knowing & engaging鈥 help communities to experience and adapt to contemporary environmental challenges and changes?
She has worked with hunter-gatherers in the Western Ghats in South India, farmers in Sri Lanka, and berry pickers of Miawpukek First Nation in Canada on topics ranging from wildlife coexistence, cultural burning, traditional livelihoods, and biocultural food systems.
Through ethnographic studies, participatory mapping, qualitative (interviews, observations), archival analysis, and quantitative approaches, Dr. Jolly explores how people鈥檚 knowledge systems and experiences can support contemporary land management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration approaches. She actively engages creative ways of weaving in scholarship, community engagement, and science communication through art, documentaries, and podcasts. Dr. Jolly also produced , an ethnographic documentary capturing some key research insights, and has hosted , a podcast series.
Dr. Jolly has lived and worked in four countries, with communities from diverse cultures and geographies. She has collaborated with experts from different disciplines, including anthropology, geography, animal behaviour, and ecology. In addition to her work, she brings extensive professional experience working as an advisor and policy analyst with development banks, NGOs, and government organizations.
In her free time, Helina enjoys spending time with her family, playing video games, catching up on her painting, or discovering new local cafes and restaurants.
Courses
WFB 3990 Human Wildlife Coexistence
Publications
Awards and Achievements
Social Sciences Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024)
Social Sciences Humanities Research Council 鈥 IDG (2023)
British Columbia Graduate Award (2020)
National Geographic Explorers Grant (2019)
Public Scholars Award (2019)
Nehru Humanitarian Award (2016)
Institute for Asian Research Graduate Award (2018)
Four Year Doctoral Fellowships (2016 鈥 2020)
Commonwealth Scholarship (2009)
Dr. Jolly is a member of the following organizations:
Areas of Expertise
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Community-engaged Research, Conservation Sciences, Human Geography, Ethnography, Biocultural Systems, Land Stewardship, and Ecosystem Restoration