Dipika Adhikari

Dipika Adhikari is a PhD Scholar and Academic Tutor at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy, affiliated with the Resources, Environment and Development (READ) Department. She serves as Academic Tutor for Environment and Society and Research Methods courses, and holds a Senior Residential Scholar position at ANU Graduate House. Her doctoral research is funded by the prestigious ANU University Research Scholarship.

Her educational background includes:

• Master’s by research (M.Phil) in Natural Resource Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management
• Master’s and Honours degrees in Geography from the University of Delhi

Dipika’s research critically examines power dynamics in polycentric governance systems, focusing on Indigenous forest land tenure security in India. She advocates for inclusive decision-making that centers Indigenous women’s voices, arguing current environmental policies fail to address gendered inequities. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates political ecology, environmental justice, and climate action frameworks to analyze socio-ecological systems, with fieldwork spanning Himalayan communities and Central India. This work bridges academic theory and policy reform, emphasizing decolonial perspectives in resource governance.

Analysis of her 2020-2024 publications reveals consistent focus on forest commons governance in India, evolving from technical policy analysis (water/energy) toward critical examinations of power and equity. Her recent under-review articles develop polycentric governance theory through Indigenous land tenure case studies, while her 2022 Policy Forum piece highlights gender dimensions often overlooked in environmental policymaking. Thematic threads connect climate resilience, social justice, and institutional design across her work.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Best Poster Award at Ostrom Workshop 7 (2024)
• ANU HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship (2020-2024)
• ANU University Research Scholarship (2020-2024)
• ANU Residential Scholarship (2024-25)

Dipika actively shapes academic discourse through tutoring in ANU’s postgraduate programs and service on the ANU Delegated Ethical Review Committee. Her research is institutionally supported by ANU scholarships and collaborative projects with the International Water Management Institute and The Energy and Resources Institute. She has presented at 8+ international conferences including POLLEN and the International Association for the Study of Commons.

As a core member of the READ Group, Dipika contributes to ANU’s interdisciplinary hub for environmental governance research. Her work connects with global networks like the Ostrom Workshop community, fostering South-South knowledge exchange on commons management. Current projects examine Dalit and Adivasi climate justice through the Centre for South Asian Studies consortium.