Born in India in 1952, Dr. Vandana Shiva is an internationally renowned author, physicist, ecologist and advocate of biodiversity conservation and protection of farmers' and women's rights. Her trailblazing work around Earth as a living system, food sovereignty, traditional agriculture, and women’s rights created fundamental cultural shifts in how the world views these issues.

Dr. Shiva is a leader and board member of the International Forum on Globalization and a prominent figure of the global solidarity movement known as the alter-globalization movement. She founded Navdanya, an organization that promotes agroecology, seed freedom, and a vision of Earth Democracy, seeking justice for the Earth and all living beings. And she has authored more than 20 books including Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracy: A Global Citizens’ Report on the Corporate Control of Technology, Health, and Agriculture and Reclaiming the Commons: Biodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge, and the Rights of Mother Earth. 

Dr. Shiva addressed the World Trade Organization summit in Seattle, 1999, as well as the World Economic Forum in Melbourne, 2000. In 1993, she won the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize (the Right Livelihood Award). In 2010, she was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for her commitment to social justice. Before becoming an activist, Dr. Shiva was one of India’s leading physicists. She holds a master’s degree in the philosophy of science and a doctorate in particle physics.

What People Are Saying About Vandana Shiva

“Shiva … has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of the ordinary people of India … her fierce intellect and her disarmingly friendly, accessible manner have made her a valuable advocate for people all over the developing world."

—Ms. Magazine

“A leading thinker who has eloquently blended her views on the environment, agriculture, spirituality, and women's rights into a powerful philosophy.”
—Utne Reader

“One of the world's most prominent radical scientists.”
—The Guardian