Anant Ambani Newcastle professorship draws criticism

Newcastle University faced criticism Thursday after awarding a sustainability professorship to Anant Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani and owner of the large Indian wildlife centre Vantara.

The university said on September 14 that it awarded Ambani a professorship of practice in sustainability "in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing a more sustainable future." It said work at Vantara aligned with its research on conservation and biodiversity targets, and also noted Ambani's role as an executive director at Reliance Industries.

Lyla Mehta, a researcher at the Institute of Development Studies affiliated with the University of Sussex, criticised the appointment, saying universities should question power and hold corporations to account rather than give them academic legitimacy.

Wildlife conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra questioned describing Vantara as conservation, calling the 3,500-acre facility a captive facility and a zoo. She said conservation should focus on protecting wild animals in their natural habitats.

Vantara, which describes itself as the world's largest rescue centre, announced a major reset of its procedures last month after concerns about its rapid acquisition of animals from around the world, including endangered species. Vantara has consistently denied wrongdoing.