Forests of Life | Call for Internship Proposals- Azim Premji University

Last date to submit your entries 15th Jan 2023 – *Deadline extended to 31st Jan 2023*

Azim Premji University was established under the Azim Premji University Act 2010 of the Government of Karnataka. Azim Premji Foundation, the sponsoring body set up the University as a fully philanthropic and not-for-profit entity, with a clear social purpose. The University started in 2011 and since then have admitted over 2000 students.

Forests serve multiple roles but increased pressure on ecosystems are leading to degrading health of our fragile forests, amidst widespread stress upon the last remaining wildlands of India. The story of our forests is however more than its anthropogenic benefits. When in the Western Ghats, in the midst of never ending sholas and floating grasslands, or in the highlands of Central India where giant Sal trees tower above all, or in the Himalayas where the deodar is beloved as the ‘Tree of the Gods’, forests continue to be the givers of life, a reminder of the critical role that earth system processes play in ameliorating the world we live in.

From sacred forests inside ancient groves, to wooded groves within industrial complexes, government  institutes and universities, in defence land and temple premises, and forests, parks and heritage trees in cities – forest patches in all the above locations have a thread in common. Forests are distinct and mutually independent lands that are repositories of unique biodiversity, and often a signature remnant of ancient landscapes that once thrived in India. Indigenous groups not only depend upon forests for sustenance but are also deeply ingrained with the forest through unique cultural conservation practices. From small to large, islands of forest biodiversity also face continual threat. However, diverse efforts to protect, regenerate and restore these landscapes spell out hope for the future of forests in the coming decades.

We seek to bring out conservation stories of our fragile forested lands, from remote corners and big cities, through the stories of dedicated professionals and of intrepid interns as you search for stories.

Second in the Nature Awareness series, after Rivers of Life, Forests of Life is a festival being organised by Azim Premji University.

Forests of Life, a celebration of our forests is the second festival under the Nature Awareness series, organised by Azim Premji University.

The festival aims to tell the story of forests through images, installations, interaction with experts, folklore around forests, etc., as seen through the eyes of individuals from different parts of India.

This is a call to encourage young students to present their forest narratives as photo essays, using mobile and/or professional cameras. This will help us take a step back and live the stories of affinity, threats, cultural affiliations, biodiversity, conflicts and above all, hope for our forests.

Internship Duration: 3 month internship will see select interns not only documenting stories but will also hopefully inculcate a life long love for forests. As with Rivers of Life, our interns are encouraged to serve as custodians of their forests.

Besides featuring visual stories of forests throughout the country, the festival is a coming together of diverse stakeholders, unique cultural traditions, distinct geographies, and an extensive documentation of the key role forests play in enriching our planet.

• This call is open to all students from various geographies of India.

Submissions should include 10 photographs taken by you using your camera or mobile phone (portrait, landscape, nature, forests, etc.) each with a caption of your choice and a concept note under the following themes:

• Forests for life — ecology and biodiversity, environment, climate change
• People of the forest — food, culture, livelihoods and ways of life
• Forests as sacred, spiritual and living entities
• Changing forests — imagining new ways of coexistence (cities, industries, transforming rural landscapes)

Concept note should include the following in 200 – 250 words:

• Title and short description
• Theme and Sub-Theme(s) selected
• Why is this important? Highlight the significance
• Location of study

Selection Process
Based on the application, shortlisted students will be invited for a subsequent interview. Final selected interns will attend curated workshops on photography skills, ethics and awareness on forests. They will be encouraged to further develop their storyline over the course of the internship.

From February to April 2023, select interns will document aspects of a chosen forest, focusing on the themes mentioned above.

Final submissions will be curated for the Forests of Life festival at the Azim Premji University Campus.

The submissions will appear in the exhibit catalogue, used as resource material for awareness generation, published in the form of an open-access book, and as articles in popular media.

Criteria

• This call is open to all students above 18 years, including those in professional courses.
• Selected students will document using professional, semi-professional cameras and/​or smartphones.
• Students will be encouraged to document through videos and audios, in addition to photographs.

Timeline of events
15 JAN 2023 – Last date to submit the application
15 FEB 2023- Internship begins
15 APR 2023 – 30 APR 2023- Final submissions as per guidelines
OCT 2023 – NOV 2023 – Forests of Life festival

Contact us at forestsoflife@​apu.​edu.​in for more information.

Click here to apply

Copyright Policy
Contributors retain all copyright to their own image. By submitting, you are allowing the use of your images by Azim Premji University for the festival and various publications. The University reserves the right to use the images for the purpose of promoting the student’s work on social media and subsequent display at the University’s events.