Dr Pasang Dolma Sherpa has been working with indigenous people of Nepal in the areas of climate change and environment protection since over a decade. Not just the work, but her study is also focused on how the skills and traditions of indigenous people are contributing in climate change mitigation and adaptation in this Himalayan country. Having born and raised in the Sherpa community, the inhabitants of mountain region, she has dedicated her whole life in the field of environment.

Serving as Executive Director of Center for Indigenous People's Research and Development (CIPRED), Sherpa is often busy engaging with the communities and holding various activities. She has continued the work of community-based monitoring and information system since 2013. "When I realized that without environment, there would be no human existence, thus I decided to commit my life in this sector," Sherpa shares, who also did her doctorate in the same subject.

Her in-depth knowledge, expertise and dedication towards the Nepali indigenous community have highly impressed her colleagues and counterparts. Dr Balchandra Luitel, Professor at Kathmandu University, is pleased with her excellent dissertation despite of having many challenges. "It is an important document not just for Nepali indigenous community, but her contribution is important among the network of indigenous education professionals as well," the professor remarks. Dr Prakash Bhattarai, Associate Professor at Kathmandu University, believes Pasang Dolma Sherpa is a great source of indigenous and local knowledge, and her international knowledge and familiarity with national policies and discourses is instrumental. "She can connect the knowledge, information and discourses and deliver effectively in the class. It brings a different avenue and provides a huge content for discussion," Bhattarai shares his strong impression.

After being enrolled in doctorate program, the journey was quite challenging for Sherpa to balance both personal and academic life. Her husband Dr Pasang Sherpa says it was full of ups and downs as she gave birth to twins while doing her PhD. "As a new mother, she balanced both well," her husband recalls the doctorate journey.  

Pasang Dolma Sherpa is confident that the traditional knowledge, skills and methods have huge contribution to environment protection in Nepal. "Climate change has a huge impact as a result of the excessive exploitation of natural resources and pollution. To address this, indigenous knowledge and cultural practices have played an important role," she sheds light on the importance of indigenous knowledge and skills, which should be acknowledged and promoted. She strongly believes that such knowledge should be transferred to future generations which will help to counter the impact of capitalistic world on indigenous people."Science knowledge should be taken forward along with indigenous knowledge in a balanced way. Nepal's cultural diversity, enriched knowledge and practices can be sold globally," Dr Pasang Dolma Sherpa highlights in her every presentation and discourses.

She reflects that more work in the area of women empowerment should be done in Nepal to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly by targeting the vulnerable women and making them realize the importance of their participation.