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Windows into future climate risk: informing adaptation policy in the global south
Supervisors: Rachel Warren (ENV)
Co-supervisors: Peter Emmrich (DEV) and Arjan Verschoor (DEV)
Manasa Sharma is a Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholar at the University of East Anglia, part of the Critical Decade for Climate Change programme. Her PhD research aims to identify climate adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers in India.
Manasa is currently developing a temporal climate analog model to quantify past impacts of extreme events and future climate risks to agriculture in the Western ghats - Cauvery River Basin region, India. She plans to conduct extensive fieldwork and farmer surveys in this region over the next year to document climate change impacts and adaptation approaches.
By analyzing local crop yields, weather data, and adaptation policies, Manasa seeks to build an inventory of proven, low-cost solutions tailored to farmers. She hopes to provide actionable recommendations to policymakers and farming communities to improve climate resilience. Manasa is reviewing the evolution of climate policies in India to identify gaps in adaptation efforts. She is passionate about interdisciplinary research that informs climate action.
Manasa holds a master's degree in biotechnology and has worked on projects in genomics, viral genomics, and science education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, creative writing, making science comics, and thoughtful discussions.
Through her PhD, Manasa aims to make meaningful contributions to climate change adaptation in vulnerable smallholder farming communities.
Describe your research journey so far.
I am thrilled to be part of the Critical Decade programme and contribute to tackling the urgent climate crisis. This interdisciplinary approach will allow me to explore innovative solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and community action. My goal is to conduct research that informs climate adaptation and spurs broader change. I am committed to elevating vulnerable voices and perspectives in the climate discourse. This programme empowers me to engage deeply on climate justice and resilience worldwide. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and help drive progress in this decisive decade.