Dr. Shawan Chowdhury

Guest Scientist

German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
Halle-Jena-Leipzig

Puschstraße 4
04103 Leipzig

Shawan Chowdhury


Research Interests

My research interests are threefold: insect migration, insect conservation, and citizen science.

I collated evidence demonstrating that hundreds of butterfly species migrate, many of them across vast distances, something that was previously believed to be the case for only a few species. I mapped and modelled their migratory journeys, discovering that, unlike birds, butterfly migration is concentrated in the tropics, and migratory butterflies can rapidly colonise new areas. In addition, I discovered, sadly, that insects are poorly conserved, with 76% of insect species being inadequately covered by protected areas.

Currently, as a part of the sMon project, I am combining and analysing the German biodiversity data to identify the changes in the state of biodiversity in Germany. Here, I regularly communicate and work with the data providers and nature conservation societies across Germany. I have developed strong big data analysis, collaboration, evidence synthesis, geospatial, and quantitative skills. While my experience is largely insect-oriented, I am always open to extend my research to other taxa. Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss anything.


Scientific Career

since August 2022

Postdoctoral Research Associate; Ecosystem Services research group FSU, UFZ, and German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

October 2021 – July 2022

Research Assistant; Fuller Lab; The University of Queensland, Australia

April 2021 – August 2021

Data Analyst; Atlas of Living Australia; CSIRO, Canberra, Australia

March 17 – December 2017

Senior Sector Specialist, Entomology; BRAC Bangladesh

December 2016 – March 2017

Research Assistant; ActionAid Bangladesh

January 2018 – October 2021 [Degree awarded: May 2022]

PhD; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
Thesis: Insect migration and conservation

January 2015 – December 2016

MSc; Department of Zoology (Entomology), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

January 2011 – December 2014

BSc; Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh


Publications

Index:

You could use our publication index for further requests.

2024 (4)

  • Arenas-Castro, H., Berdejo-Espinola, V., Chowdhury, S., Rodríguez-Contreras, A., James, A.R.M., Nussaïbah, B.R., Dunne, E.M., Bertolino, S., Emidio, N.B., Derez, C.M., Drobniak, S.M., Fulton, G.R., Henao-Diaz, L.F., Kaur, A., Kim, C.J.S., Lagisz, M., Medina, I., Mikula, P., Narayan, V.P., O'Bryan, C.J., Oh, R.R.Y., Ovsyanikova, E., Pérez-Hämmerle, K.-V., Pottier, P., Powers, J.S., Rodriguez-Acevedo, A.J., Rozak, A.H., Sena, P.H.A., Sockhill, N.J., Tedesco, A.M., Tiapa-Blanco, F., Tsai, J.-S., Villarreal-Rosas, J., Wadgymar, S.M., Yamamichi, M., Amano, T. (2024):
    Academic publishing requires linguistically inclusive policies
    Proc. R. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 291 (2018), art. 20232840 10.1098/rspb.2023.2840
  • Chowdhury, S., Ahmed, S., Alam, S., Callaghan, C.T., Das, P., Di Marco, M., Di Minin, E., Jarić, I., Labi, M.M., Rokonuzzaman, M., Roll, U., Sbragaglia, V., Siddika, A., Bonn, A. (2024):
    A protocol for harvesting biodiversity data from Facebook
    Conserv. Biol. , e14257 10.1111/cobi.14257
  • Chowdhury, S., Fuller, R.A., Ahmed, S., Alam, S., Callaghan, C.T., Das, P., Correia, R.A., Di Marco, M., Di Minin, E., Jarić, I., Labi, M.M., Ladle, R.J., Rokonuzzaman, M., Roll, U., Sbragaglia, V., Siddika, A., Bonn, A. (2024):
    Using social media records to inform conservation planning
    Conserv. Biol. 38 (1), e14161 10.1111/cobi.14161
  • Cooke, S.J., Piczak, M.L., Singh, N.J., Åkesson, S., Ford, A.T., Chowdhury, S., Mitchell, G.W., Norris, D.R., Hardesty-Moore, M., McCauley, D., Hammerschlag, N., Tucker, M.A., Horns, J.J., Reisinger, R.R., Kubelka, V., Lennox, R.J. (2024):
    Animal migration in the Anthropocene: threats and mitigation options
    Biol. Rev. 10.1111/brv.13066
to index

2023 (8)

to index

2022 (2)

to index