Dr. Vandana Shiva is a physicist, philosopher, ecofeminist, environmental activist and writer. She is director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology, and in 1993, Shiva won the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize Right Livelihood Award) for her efforts in placing women and ecology at the heart of modern development discourse. She is a leader in the International Forum on Globalization, along with Ralph Nader and Jeremy Rifkin and she addressed the World Trade Organization summit in Seattle, 1999, as well as the recent World Economic Forum in Melbourne, 2000.

Before becoming an activist, Shiva was one of India's leading physicists. She holds a masters in Philosophy of Science and a Ph.D. in Particle Physics. She later shifted to inter-disciplinary research in science, technology and environmental policy. Dr. Shiva has since contributed in fundamental ways to changing the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food. Her books, "The Violence of Green Revolution" and "Monocultures of the Mind" have become basic challenges to the dominant paradigm of non-sustainable agricultural development in India throughout the world.

In 1982 Vandana established an independent institution, the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology, dedicated to high quality independent research to address the most significant ecological and social issues of our times. In close partnership with local communities and social movements this institution has validated the ecological value of traditional farming techniques and has been instrumental in fighting many destructive development projects in India. In 1991, she founded Navdanya, a national movement to protect biodiversity and the integrity of living resources through resource conservation, ecological agriculture, and sustainable living.

Dr. Shiva's contributions to gender issues have also gained international recognition. Her book, "Staying Alive" dramatically shifted the perception of third-world women. In 1990 she wrote a report for the Food and Agriculture Organization on Women and Agriculture entitled, "Most Farmers in India are Women". She founded the gender unit at the International Centre for Mountain Development in Kathmandu, and she is a recognized leader in the ecofeminist movement.

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering are other dimensions of Dr. Shiva's international campaigns for sustainability. She has helped movements in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Ireland, Switzerland and Austria with their campaigns against genetic engineering. Besides her academic and research contributions, Dr. Shiva has also served as an adviser to governments in India and abroad as well as NGOs such as the International Forum on Globalisation, Women's Environment and Development Organisation and Third World Netwok.