Research that begins where the classroom ends.
A young research centre led by a scientist with 100+ publications and five researchers from five disciplines — working on urban sustainability, coastal ecology, cognition, and pedagogy in Mangaluru and Mysuru.
People
Scientific Advisory Council. Director. Five researchers. Institutional leadership. Each profile includes research areas, current projects, and publications.
View all people →Labs & Current Work
Mysuru tree census. AMARA. Urban ecology. Environmental monitoring. Cognition & pedagogy. What the Research Centre is doing right now.
View labs & projects →What's happening right now.
Mysuru Comprehensive Tree Census
Partnership with MGP and SDMIMD. First comprehensive tree census of Mysuru using the "Mangalore Model" of digital auditing. Every tree geotagged with species ID, GPS, canopy classification, and health status.
AMARA — Urban Greening
From 6.24% green cover to 30% by 2040. 11,000+ trees of 145 species geotagged across 60 wards. 40,000 mangrove saplings at Adamkudru.
Six researchers. Five disciplines.
Each name links to their full profile with research areas, projects, and publications.
Where the centre is heading.
Urban Ecology & Digital Forestry
AMARA. Mysuru census. The "Mangalore Model." Satellite + AI tree cover identification.
Environmental Monitoring
Groundwater quality mapping. Chemical pollutant distribution.
Environmental Modelling
Fluid dynamics for urban systems — drainage, heat islands, pollutant dispersion.
Cognition & Pedagogy
Nature Curriculum. Student Coach App. Cognition Conference Oct 2026.
Cognition Lab →Five problems we can no longer ignore.
Learning is still about marks — not thinking, curiosity, or mastery. Children are growing up disconnected from nature and the climate crisis. Teachers aren't trained for today's world. Cities are hotter and losing green cover. Research happens in silos — not where change happens.
"We didn't wait for change — we led it. And we're just getting started."
(vs 1% nationally)
(vs 2% nationally)
Alumni at IITs, IISc, CMI, ISI, Harvard, ETH Zurich, UChicago. The Research Centre exists to study WHY this works — and make it replicable.
Reaching beyond the campus.
Pragathi
Free JEE/NEET coaching for government PU students. 1,300 hrs. Recognised in Karnataka CM's Yearbook.
IMTC Teacher Training
Montessori + Reggio Emilia. Free for govt school teachers. 6+ years, hundreds of teachers.
Ramanujan Contest
Monthly maths contest, Grades 8-11. Expanding into Math Circles.
Sustainable Architecture
Campus II: compressed mud blocks + Jali work. First in Mangaluru.
From prototype to research institution.
India's Promising Preschools (2017–20) · Innovation in Curriculum (2019) · Innovative Pedagogy Award (2021) · Excellence in Educational Innovation, Times Business Awards (2021) · Nature-Friendly Curriculum, Education World (2021)
Join the work. It's early — and that's the point.
PhD scholars · Research collaborators · Visiting scientists · Field volunteers · Organisations interested in the "Mangalore Model"
CFAL Research Centre · Akashbhavan, Kavoor, Mangaluru 575015