Position: Assistant Professor
School: School of Sciences
Email: harshna.charan@fnu.ac.fj
Campus: Derrick Campus – Samabula
Phone: 3381044 ext. 4361

Biography:

Dr. Harshna Charan is an academic dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in the Pacific region. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Fiji National University. Her doctoral research focused on the complex interactive effects of abiotic factors, such as temperature, nutrients, and irradiance, on the ecophysiology of Fijian and Japanese macroalgae. This work advanced scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and strengthened academic ties between Japan and the Pacific Islands. In her current role, Dr. Charan focuses on climate change adaptation, particularly its impacts on women’s security, especially those reliant on marine ecosystems for their livelihoods in Fiji. She is also involved in building resiliency in coastal communities through nature-based solutions and reducing plastic pollution through solid waste management.

Qualification:

• Doctor of Philosophy specializing in marine plant ecology – Tohoku University (Japan)
• Master of Science in Climate Change – The University of the South Pacific (Fiji)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change – The University of the South Pacific (Fiji)
• Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry – The University of the South Pacific (Fiji)

Area of Expertise:

• Marine ecology
• Phycology
• Climate Change (Bioresource sciences, ecosystem/nature-based solutions, Women Peace and Security (WPS), and blue carbon economy)
• Interactive abiotic environmental effects
• Biodiversity and conservation
• Solid waste management
• Invasive species
• GIS
• Elemental analysis

Journals:

• Charan, H., Inomata, E., Endo, H., Sato, Y., Okumura, Y., and Aoki, M.N. 2022. “Decreased Irradiance and Nutrient Enrichment Mitigate the Negative Effect of Ocean Warming on Growth and Biochemical Compositions of a Canopy-Forming Marine Macroalga.” J. Mar. Sci. Eng.
• Chand, R., Jokhan, A., Charan, H., Raj, K., and Singh, P. 2018. “Threats Posed by Asian Subterranean Termites in the Fiji Islands and Their Potential Controls: A Review.” New Zealand Plant Protection 71, 129-139.

Book and Book Chapters:

• Charan, H., Prakash, R., Chand, R. 2024. “An Overview of Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries – Current Status, Challenges and Recommendations in Solid Waste Management for Resource-Efficient System,” pp. 29-42.

Conference:

• Horie, R., Charan, H., Suzuki, H., and Aoki, M. 2022. “Effect of different light quality and nutrient condition on growth of Eisenia bicyclis sporophytes.” Japanese Phycological Society Conference, Japan.
• Charan, H. 2019. “Pest Seaweed in Fiji.” 3rd International Marine Science Symposium of Tohoku University in collaboration with Deakin University in Sendai, Japan.
• Charan, H., and N’Yeurt, A. D. R. 2019. “Temperature and Nutrient Effect on Sargassum polycstum and Gracilaria edulis from Fiji.” Kagoshima University, Japanese Phycological Society Conference, Japan.
• Charan, H., N’Yeurt, A. D. R., Chopin, T., and Iese, V. 2017. “The effect of temperature on the Growth of Pest seaweed in Fiji.” 2nd International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change. University of Mauritius.

Teaching interest:

• Climate Change
• Marine ecology
• Geographic Information systems
• Remote sensing
• Research methods
• Environment Impact Assessment

Research interest:

• Marine ecology
• Phycology
• Climate Change (Bioresource sciences, ecosystem/nature-based solutions, Women Peace and Security (WPS), and blue carbon economy)
• Interactive abiotic environmental effects
• Biodiversity and conservation
• Solid waste management
• Invasive species
• GIS
• Elemental analysis