About Us

The Centre for Environmental Research & Education (CERE) was established in 2002 by Dr. (Ms.) Rashneh N. Pardiwala, an ecologist from the University of Edinburgh and Mrs. Kitayun Rustom, an environmental educationist. CERE has successfully completed projects in both urban and rural India having worked closely with different government departments, educational institutions, multinational companies and civil society organizations. CERE is also a pioneer in the field of corporate sustainability and carbon management systems where we help organisations map their carbon footprint, meet international reporting standards, implement low cost carbon reductions strategies which ensure considerable financial savings and engage in staff awareness activities.

CERE has been commissioned for projects by IndusInd Bank, Tata Capital Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Tata Consultancy Services, Rabo Bank, Tata Power and others. In 2005, both Dr. Pardiwala and Mrs. Rustom were recognized as Social Entrepreneur for Change and awarded the international Ashoka Fellowship. In 2009, Dr. Pardiwala was selected as one of Asia’s 21 Young Leaders and conferred the Asia Society Fellowship in Japan.

Dr. Rashneh Pardiwala - Founder & Director

Dr. (Ms.) Rashneh N. Pardiwala is an Ecologist from the University of Edinburgh having specialized in the field of Climate Change. She has worked as an environmental scientist and consultant on a range research projects in India and abroad and has many publications to her credit. In 2005, she was recognized as one of the youngest ‘Social Entrepreneur for Change’ and was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship. In 2009 in Tokyo Japan, Dr. Pardiwala was selected as one of Asia’s 21 Young Leaders and conferred the Asia Society Fellowship. In 2011, she was selected from India as a participant at the Swedish Institute Management Program with corporate responsibility and sustainability as an all-embracing focus.
Email: rashneh.pardiwala@cere-india.org

Mrs Katy Rustom

Mrs. Kitayun (Katy) Rustom, the co-founder of CERE, began her career as a school teacher at the J.B.Petit School for Girls. She was the co-founder of the Dahanu Taluka Environmental Welfare Association (DTEWA) an organisation that is well known for its environmental victories through various litigative strategies. She has been on several government appointed committees and bodies. In 1999 she was one of the 6 Indian Environmentalists selected by the Environmental Law Institute , Washington DC. In 2005 she was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship. Katy Rustom has also organised several teacher training workshops and developed and authored learning materials for Environmental Education.
Email: kitayun.rustom@cere-india.org

Ms. Janjri Jasani

Janjri has graduated with a Masters in Environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh and is currently working with the CERE as a Senior Researcher and Project In-Charge of the Carbon Map & Cap Project. Her interests centre on Climate Change science, sustainable development & urban solutions to environmental issues. She also has a BA in Biology with a focus on Evolutionary Biology from Northwestern University in Chicago. She is interested in the role environmental education can play as a solution to environmental issues and has worked with CERE for the past 5 years. Janjri has co-authored CERE publications for children and young adults, including an activity book on art-n-craft from waste, entitled Out of the Box.
Email: janjri.jasani@cere-india.org

Mrs. Tina Abraham

A graduate in English Literature from Women’s Christian College, Chennai and a LLB from Bangalore University, Tina has worked with leading law firms like B.C Dasgupta and Associates in Delhi and Nabbaro Nathenson in Dubai before moving to the social sector and working with organisations like UNICEF and CRY. An environmentalist at heart, since the past 3 years Tina has joined CERE's Core Team as a Senior Researcher and Consultant. Tina’s key interests lie in Carbon Management Solutions for Corporates as a solution to mitigate climate change and developing a line of high quality eco-products. Tina is an avid writer and regularly contributes articles to magazines like Robin Age and Teenager.
Email: tina.abraham@cere-india.org

Mr. Laxmikant Deshpande

Laxmikant, a post-graduate in Environment Sciences from Pune University has obtained Darwin Scholarship on Biodiversity Monitoring & Education with FSCEE, UK. He has worked with NEERI, BNHS, Centre for Environment Education, Godrej Mangrove Project & Environmental Management Centre in the last 11 years. His work is focused on climate change, biodiversity conservation, mangrove ecosystem of Mumbai, solid waste management etc. He was greatly involved in activities like Indradhanushya Environment Centre, Green Teacher Diploma Course, development of Awareness Manual of ‘Eco-City Action Plan for Sangli Miraj Kupwad’ for MPCB. He has played a key role in EMS ISO 14001 trainings for 2000 employees of Volkswagen India, EMS & OHSHAS trainings at Cummins India Limited etc.
Email: amar.deshpande@cere-india.org

Ms. Edel Monteiro

Edel has a educational background in social sciences with a Bachelors in Psychology & Anthropology from St Xaviers College and a Masters in Sociology from Mumbai University. She has previously worked with Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, in the Fellowship Program. Edel joined CERE to spearhead the Carbon Map & Cap Conference 2011, which was attended by over 140 delegates from 70 major organisations. Her current project in CERE is the research & creation of a Green Directory which will be designed as a one stop shop featuring eco-friendly and sustainable products and services for sectors of Indian society. She also manages CERE's websites and communication platforms.
Email: edel.monteiro@cere-india.org

Mrs. Avanti Mehta

Avanti Mehta has a degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Maine, USA and has trained in Captive Breeding of Endangered Species at the Durell Conservation Learning Centre, Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, UK. She has had vast experience planning and working at large zoos like the Mumbai Zoo & Sudarvan in Ahmedabad. Avanti has worked as a naturalist across India & Nepal and with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (Delhi) in association with the World Bank to design Eco-Development plans for Protected Areas in India. Avanti has taught Environmental Education as part of school programs in Anne Mary School (Dehradun) & Bombay International School (Mumbai) and presently teaches in non-school settings while practicing organic farming. She has authored and illustrated children’s books on environment for CERE as well as other organisations including World Wide Fund (WWF), Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Mountain Children’s Forum Newsletter and many others.

Mrs. Elizabeth Virkar

Mrs. Elizabeth Virkar is an educationist with many years of teaching experience having taught in schools across India including the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Delhi, Tara Hall, Shimla and the J. B. Petit High School for Girls, Mumbai. Her special field of interest is developing creativity in young children. She has done an advanced course in writing for children, conducted by the Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. Elizabeth regularly conducts workshops in creative art-n-craft and writing for organizations and establishments. She has authored 3 books including Out of the Box, a handbook on art and craft from waste and A Wisdom of Words, an English Reader Series. Elizabeth works with CERE as a consultant for outreach programs in schools.

Ms. Rohini Oomman

Ms. Rohini Oomman is a prominent educationist of the country being a founder member of the Bombay International School and headmistress of the Sishya School in Madras for a couple of years. After completing her M.A. in Political Science and Economic Development from the John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, she taught English, History, Economics and Social Studies for several years in the secondary section of the J.B. Petit High School for Girls (Mumbai). She has authored many children's books for major publishing houses such as Scholastic and the CERE publication entitled A Wisdom of Words from Stds V - VIII. After retiring from active teaching, presently she is a consultant for several schools in Mumbai helping develop curriculum and alternative methods of teaching, undertakes Teacher Training Workshops and is a Master Trainer at Muktangan, Mumbai.