ALEEM YOOSUF N

Bioinvasion Researcher | 1ˢᵗ Prize WWF ECHO National Innovation Summit 2026 | WWF-India ECHO Fellow 2025 | SSR Awardee in 37ᵗʰ Kerala Science Congress | Founder: ELATHAND, NeophyteID App | Cofounder: TBARC India | CSIR-JRF NET & GATE qualifier | CU Kerala Alumnus

| ELATHAND | NeophyteID | TBARC India |

I am Aleem Yoosuf N, an invasion ecologist, biodiversity educator, and science communicator from Kerala, India. I am currently a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) pursuing my PhD in Invasion Ecology at the KSCSTE – Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (Government of Kerala). My work is rooted in the ecologically sensitive landscapes of the Western Ghats, including the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, where invasive species pose serious threats to native biodiversity.
I developed “NeophyteID”, a YOLOv11-powered, real-time invasive plant detection tool designed for Kerala. This initiative brings together artificial intelligence, field ecology, and citizen participation to make invasive species identification accessible to non-experts, supporting early detection and community-led conservation.
I was selected as the ECHO Fellow of the Year (2025–26) under the Youth Innovation Challenge by WWF India, and I received the Oushadhi Endowment Award for Scientific Social Responsibility at the 38th Kerala Science Congress.
Beyond research, I work to bridge the gap between ecological science and local communities through biodiversity stewardship programs, awareness sessions, and science communication, translating ecological knowledge into locally meaningful action. My mission is to democratize ecology and empower people to actively protect their landscapes.

Roots in Resilience
My path to conservation ignited during the 2019 floods in my native Nilambur. Watching native plant communities and riverine ecosystems unravel amid the devastation turned personal concern into purpose, shifted my perspective from academic curiosity to an urgent mission: understanding post-flood landscape dynamics and the threat of invasive species.

Current Focus
Currently pursuing a PhD in Ecology, I am exploring the intricacies of plant ecology and bioinvasion. My research doesn't stay confined to the lab; I aim to democratize scientific knowledge to ensure it serves the landscapes and communities that need it most.

Bridging Ecology and Technology
At the nexus of fieldwork and innovation, I developed NeophyteID, a YOLOv11-powered real-time invasive plant detection app tailored for Kerala’s landscapes. This tool earned me the ECHO Fellow of the Year (2025-26) under WWF India's Youth Innovation Challenge, themed Reviving Nature: Youth-Led Solutions for Biodiversity Conservation. It's my contribution to scalable, tech-enabled monitoring of bioinvasions threatening the Western Ghats.

Building Communities for Change
Beyond research, I'm passionate about education and action:

Founder of ELATHAND (Ecological Local Action for Tropical Habitat and Native Diversity): A social media community democratizing ecological knowledge, busting greenwashing, and fostering responsible environmental citizenship.

Cofounder of Tropical Biodiversity Action and Research Center (TBARC): A grassroots organization in Nilambur bridging science and local action in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Awards & Recognition

▪️WWF-India ECHO Fellow of the Year (2025-26): Recognized for youth-led solutions in biodiversity conservation.
▪️Oushadi Endowment Award: Awarded at the 37th Kerala Science Congress for Scientific Social Responsibility.

Vision Forward
My long-term mission unites ecology, education, and social justice: empowering community-driven conservation and scientific accountability in the tropics' biodiversity hotspots. Let's revive and protect these vital ecosystems together.

Aleem Yoosuf N
Mampad, Nilambur,
Malappuram, Kerala, India - 676 542