Purnima Devi Barman attended Gauhati University in Assam,[1] where she obtained her Masters in Zoology, with a specialization in Ecology and Wildlife Biology.

[citation needed] Barman is also a Director at WiNN (Women in Nature Network) India,[4] and a Member of the IUCN Stork, Ibis and Spoon bill Specialist Group.

[2][6][7] In Assam this bird lives in close contact with urban areas, nests in privately owned trees and scavenges at rubbish dumps.

[6] Barman began working with greater adjutants while conducting her PhD research in the remote villages of Dadara, Pacharia and Singimari in the Kamrup district of Assam.

[3] This led Barman to discover that this bird had a bad reputation among the villagers due to its unattractive appearance, scavenging nature and foul-smelling nests.

[17] Efforts to change the image of the birds from bad omens or pests into one worthy of representation in celebrated human traditions like marriage and childbirth.

[13][11] Another outreach initiative is based around educating elementary-age children in the schools through discussions and games, as well as field trips to the landfills where the scavenger birds can often be found.

[14] Journalist Abdul Gani won Laadli Media & Advertising Award (2015-16) for his reporting on Greater Adjutant Stork conservation efforts by Purnima Devi Barman and her team.

[18] [19] Barman was the recipient of the 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar (the highest civilian award for Indian women) presented by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.