Pradeep Nair is Professor of New Media in the Department of New Media and Director Research of the University. Previously he was Dean of the School of Journalism, Mass Communication and New Media from 2015-2022; and Head of New Media from 2012-2022. His research and teaching is in the fields of critical communication theories, new media in shaping public opinion and behaviour in the context of state-society nexus, exploring the relationship between local media and climate change, understanding the impact of climate change on local ecologies and health communication and governance.Professor Nair is a member of Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Water and Climate Coalition (WCC), Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) and The Water Network (TWN). His engagement is in exploring the expanded role of communication outreach in increasing the ability of local communities to engage them in advocacy and policy issues related to climate resilience and maintaining the local biodiversity.