Dr. Sonaleesa Satpathy is the Sr. Research Follow (Environment & Bio-diversity Conservation) at IISD, who is a Doctorate from Shree Dwarikadhisha Mahakavyasya Samikshatmaka Adhyayanam by Rasthriya Sanskrit Santhanam, Janakpuri, New Delhi and a Sanskrit Scholar of high repute. Subsquently to her PhD, She carried out research work at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is a topper in MA (Sanskrit) Acharya from Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Shree Shadashiva Parisara , Puri, Odisha. She holds a Pravina in Hindi Literature from Rasthrabhasa Parisad, in addition to Diploma in Computer Application & Software Technology, where she learnt Oracle (SQL) and Java. She has published 7 Books out of which, the Sanskrit to Oriya Dictionary is very popular. She has received 5 Awards and Felicitations including one from Sankruti Suraksha Samman by Utkal University Of Culture, Bhubaneswar. She is an Outstanding Orator on Shree Jagannath Culture and also teaching Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta in all over India.

Being from the temple town Puri, She is inspired by the blue folding waves, the wonderful Sunrise and Sunset of the sea shore; Nature, is her first love. In the latter part of her life, she developed enough concerns for the Environmental Degradation of the Nature, especially related to pristine beaches and our rich oceans with full of beautiful corals, biodiversity and its flora and fauna resources in abundance. Since then She is engaging with Fishermen Community for Sustainable Fish Catch, Conservation of Olive Ridley Turtles & Coral Reefs and other sensitive matters related to Enviornment & Bio-diversity Conservation with IISD. In addtion, she is working on blue economy and ocean resources development projects.