2026 Champion: Narayan, Vikram
Biography
Dr. Vikram Narayan serves as an Assistant Professor for the Biology and Chemistry Department. Dr. Narayan has a PhD in Biological Sciences and focuses on gene-environment interactions in aging, evolutionary genetics, and multi-omics approaches to health and lifespan. He has spent over a decade teaching internationally including places such as Fiji, Australia, and South Korea.
COinS
2026 Champion: Narayan, Vikram
Comments
Nomination Comments:
"Dr. Vikram Narayan is a strong advocate for textbook affordability and open education through his innovative design of the Wildlife and Airports course at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Rather than relying on a costly commercial textbook, Dr. Narayan built the course around openly available FAA wildlife strike datasets, peer-reviewed literature, and faculty-created instructional materials delivered through Canvas. This approach eliminates traditional textbook expenses while immersing students in authentic, data-driven learning experiences aligned with real-world aviation safety challenges. His course integrates ERAU-created resources, curated ebooks, open datasets, and original video tutorials, enabling students to develop skills in programming, scientific writing, and applied analysis without requiring paid platforms or access codes. Students actively contribute to their learning by producing research reports and review-style papers, reinforcing open education principles through student-generated scholarship.His model emphasizes long-term sustainability by replacing static textbooks with living course resources that evolve each semester, ensuring ongoing relevance while maintaining zero-cost access for students. The impact of this work extends beyond a single course. Dr. Narayan openly shares his teaching materials, workflows, and assessment frameworks with colleagues, supporting broader adoption of affordable instructional practices. His creative integration of open data, library resources, and ERAU-developed content exemplifies thoughtful, technology-enabled pedagogy that prioritizes student success, equity, and professional readiness.Through sustained commitment to open education, Dr. Narayan has demonstrably reduced student costs while enhancing learning outcomes, making him an outstanding candidate for the Textbook Affordability Champions 2026 recognition."