Dr. F. Merlin Franco, is an Ethnobiologist hailing from a beautiful village near Kuzhithurai of Kanyakumari District. He earned a Ph.D in Ethnobotany from the University of Madras through Madras Christian College (MCC). He has published more than 10 papers in refereed journals and has worked with research institutes of repute such as the CIKS and the Earthwatch Institute. Franco is interested in understanding the various relationships between nature and human beings and believes that the primary goal of science is to empower people so as to achieve social justice.