Neelam is interested in aesthetics of the plant kingdom. Childhood memories of tomatoes, beans and bananas on the outskirts of erstwhile Bombay sparked her interest in Botany. She was earlier associated with National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, and Bombay Natural History Society for projects related to biodiversity. Her involvement in scientific communications was in strength of S Ramaseshan fellow at Current Science. A quest to unravel Goa’s marine flora led to PhD on seaweed taxonomy. Her brief associations with media include trainee positions at a Public Relations firm, a film magazine and a leading local newspaper. Presently, she is channeling her focus as a freelance writer.