I’m Dr. Himani Nautiyal, an evolutionary biologist and biological anthropologist, and a postdoctoral fellow at Howard University in Washington, D.C. I was born and raised in a small Himalayan village, where daily life unfolded at the edge of forests and wildlife, shaped by stories, seasonal rhythms, and generations of ecological knowledge. Growing up there, I learned early that humans are not separate from nature; we are part of the same evolutionary story. That realization shaped my scientific path. My work asks a fundamental question: how have humans and wildlife adapted to one another across time, and how can that deep evolutionary relationship guide coexistence today? For more than a decade, I have conducted long-term field research across remote Himalayan landscapes, integrating behavioral ecology, evolutionary theory, and cultural anthropology to understand how communities and wildlife respond to climate change and biodiversity loss. I study adaptation not only in primate behavior, but also in human knowledge systems, social networks, and land-use practices. In 2014, I founded the Himalayan Langur Project, a long-term research initiative grounded in evolutionary biology and community collaboration. Through this work, we examine the behavior and ecology of Himalayan langurs while working closely with local communities to develop conservation strategies rooted in respect, reciprocity, and evidence. What began as a small field effort has grown into a platform for understanding coexistence as a dynamic, evolving relationship.
Beyond research, I am committed to communicating science beyond academic spaces. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s belief that knowledge must be shared, I use film, public lectures, and educational programs to make evolutionary and conservation science accessible. My documentary Tradition in Balance explores how Himalayan communities adapt to environmental change, while my outreach initiatives support women and young students in becoming future stewards of their landscapes. At the center of my work is a simple idea: coexistence is not a modern invention. It is the continuation of a long evolutionary partnership between humans and the living world. My goal, whether in the high Himalayas or in a classroom in Washington, D.C., is to connect evolutionary insight with lived experience and help shape futures in which both people and wildlife can thrive.
Beyond research, I am committed to communicating science beyond academic spaces. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s belief that knowledge must be shared, I use film, public lectures, and educational programs to make evolutionary and conservation science accessible. My documentary Tradition in Balance explores how Himalayan communities adapt to environmental change, while my outreach initiatives support women and young students in becoming future stewards of their landscapes. At the center of my work is a simple idea: coexistence is not a modern invention. It is the continuation of a long evolutionary partnership between humans and the living world. My goal, whether in the high Himalayas or in a classroom in Washington, D.C., is to connect evolutionary insight with lived experience and help shape futures in which both people and wildlife can thrive.
Latest news
Honored to receive the Communication & Outreach Award in Honor of Camilla Smith from the American Association of Biological Anthropologists and the Leakey Foundation, recognizing a decade of science communication and community engagement.
Traditions in Balance Receives International Awards
My independent film has been honored globally for portraying the delicate relationship between Himalayan communities, culture, and climate change.
Latest publications
Predatory Dogs as Drivers of Social Behavior Changes in the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) in Agro-Forest Landscapes. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060410
Predatory Dogs as Drivers of Social Behavior Changes in the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) in Agro-Forest Landscapes. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060410
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- Female social dynamics as viewed from grooming networks in the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23655
Conservationist of the Year Award by We Naturalists
Latest project: 2023-2026
Towards making Howard University a hub for basic cultural anthropological research related to cultural and biodiversity conservation. Funded by the National Science Foundation, USA.
Towards making Howard University a hub for basic cultural anthropological research related to cultural and biodiversity conservation. Funded by the National Science Foundation, USA.
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Contact Details Dr. Himani Nautiyal Email: h[email protected] Rui Diogo Lab, Washington, DC, USA ResearchGate profile Google Scholar profile National Geographic profile |
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Educational blog postings |
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