Dr. Dhanusha Balakrishnan

Dr. Dhanusha Balakrishnan is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Extension and Communication in the Division of Agricultural Extension, School of Agricultural Sciences, at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension (Social Sciences) from Kerala Agricultural University, completed in 2022 with an OGPA of 9.1/10, an M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension from Kerala Agricultural University, completed in 2017 with an OGPA of 8.9/10, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Maharashtra, completed in 2015 with an OGPA of 7.81/10. Her doctoral research focused on disaster vulnerability, inequality and adaptation mechanisms among marginalised, tribal and farming communities in Kerala, while her master’s research examined multidimensional gender analysis and social exclusion among tribal agricultural labourers.

Her research interests include livelihood systems and resilience, community perceptions of environmental risks, socio-environmental vulnerability, equity and resource access, socio-ecological systems and gender empowerment. She has expertise in mixed-methods behavioural research, survey design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, behavioural and consumption pattern mapping, composite index construction, policy framework and practical toolkit development, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Her doctoral research involved primary quantitative data from 520 households, along with Focus Group Discussions and Participatory Rural Appraisal, leading to the development of the Societal Vulnerability Index for Floods and Landslides and the Climate Adaptive Agricultural Extension Approach. She also has international research experience through a three-month research stay at Justus Liebig University, Germany.

Dr. Dhanusha has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Extension and Communication at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences since August 2022, where she teaches undergraduate courses, mentors students in research design, survey methods and academic writing, coordinates academic activities and engages in interdisciplinary research. She previously served as an Assistant Professor on contract at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, contributing to undergraduate teaching, academic coordination and accreditation activities. She has also undertaken responsibilities including serving as a panelist for a Smart Agriculture workshop, coordinating Farmers’ Mela and training programmes, organizing farmer seminars and biodiversity sensitization programmes, and serving as Chief Editor of the School of Agricultural Sciences newsletter, Farm Connect. Her achievements include the Best Presenter Award for Doctoral Seminar Presentations, the UGC Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for research in Social Sciences, and qualification in ICAR-NET and UGC-NET.

Her research contributions include publications in journals and scholarly publications covering societal vulnerability, flood adaptation, agricultural extension, climate adaptation, digital agriculture, artificial intelligence in horticulture, e-learning and agricultural education, as well as social exclusion and gender analysis among tribal agricultural communities. Her recent publications include research on multidimensional societal vulnerability to floods and landslides, digital twin technologies for precision agriculture, technology adoption, and climate-related agricultural challenges. She has also contributed popular articles to agricultural magazines and a book chapter on leadership competencies of an agripreneur. In addition to her research and teaching activities, she has contributed to science communication and advocacy through popular science writing and the translation of technical research into accessible content for stakeholders.