National Centre for Earth Science Studies

Education:

Professional career:

Areas of Specialization:

• Biogeochemistry, Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Surface Chemistry

Research Interests:

• Biogeochemical studies, River basin studies, Coastal ocean & estuarine monitoring studies, Water resources management, Synthesis and characterisation of novel surface modified adsorbents, Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics, Removal of heavy metals and micronutrients, Solid-liquid interfacial Chemistry & colloid Chemistry, Development of value-added products from agri-wastes, Synthesis of metal oxide based nanosorbents for photocatalysis, Design of wastewater treatment strategies, Integrated monitoring & mitigation studies, Pesticide dynamics, Speciation studies.

Honours/Awards/Fellowships :

1. CSIR-Senior Research Associateship (2010), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
2. UKIERI-Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008), UK-India Education and Research Initiative, British Council.
3. CSIR-Research Associateship (2005), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
4. CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship (2002), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
5. Junior Research Fellowship (1999), University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India

Ongoing Projects:

1. Hydrogeochemistry and nutrient fluxes of the rivers of Western Ghats (W.P.3B.1) Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2017-2021).
2. Environmental monitoring of water and sediment quality parameters in the backwaters of Cochin Port Trust (CPT-4). Funded by: Cochin Port Trust, Govt. of India (2017-2022).
3. Phase-II Expansion of Central Chemical Laboratory (Institutional Development Programme) Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2020-2023).

Completed Projects:

1. Upgradation of Central Chemical Laboratory with sophisticated analytical instruments for water/soil/sediment analyses (Phase-I) Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2014-2020).
2. Environmental Studies of Periyar-Chalakkudy River Basins of Kerala and Netravathi and Gurupur River Basins of Karnataka Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2014-2017).
3. Sea Water Quality Monitoring Programme (SWQM) Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2012-2017)
4. Environmental monitoring of water and sediment quality parameters in the backwaters of Cochin Port Trust (CPT-3) Funded by: Cochin Port Trust, Govt. of India (2012-2017).
5. Environmental studies of Kollam-Neendakara wetlands and associated inlands Funded by: Fisheries and Port Department, Govt. of Kerala (2013-2014) .
6. Appraisal of drinking water potential of springs in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts of Kerala Funded by: CESS under Plan Project Scheme (2011-2014) .
7. Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAPS) Funded by: MoES, Govt. of India (2007-2012).

EIA Studies:

1. Team member in: Environmental Impact Assessment of proposed clay mining industry at Madikai and Perole, Hosdurg, Kasaragod, Kerala, Ashapura Minechem Limited, Mumbai, March, 2006.
2. Team member in: Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment of proposed Hodiedah Refinery at Al Homrah, Hodiedah, Republic of Yemen. Yemen Gulf Oil Refinery Company, April 2007.
3. Team member in: Environmental Impact Assessment study for the proposed heavy mineral sand mining at Alappad, Panmana & Ayanivelikulangara, Kollam district, Kerala. Indian Rare Earths Limited, Chavara, Kollam, December, 2009.

Moderator:

1. A National Level Debate Competition for School Students, Heam Parliamentarian 2015, “Awareness about hydrogen energy” organized by Indian Association of Hrdrogen Energy and Advanced Materials Christ Nagar School, Kowdiar, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 31st October 2015 .
2. A National Level Debate Competition for School Students, Heam Parliamentarian 2017, “Necessity of Hydrogen and other renewable energy sources based startups in India” organized by Indian Association of Hrdrogen Energy and Advanced Materials at St. John’s College, Anchal, Kerala, India, 7th December 2017.
3. A National Level Debate Competition for School Students, Heam Parliamentarian 2018, “Necessity of hydrogen and biofuelsbased renewable energy sources in the current Indian scenario” organized by Indian Association of Hrdrogen Energy and Advanced Materials at St. John’s College, Anchal, Kerala, India, 31st October 2018.

Training Programmes/Workshop/Town Meeting:

1. “Risk Assessment for Processes Involving Use of Hazardous Substances” – organized by Safety Office, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, July 24, 2008UGC-ISF International Workshop on Ecosystem service assessment for the sustainable management of Ashtamudi and Sasthamkotta Lakes, Kerala organized by Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. 17-18th January 2020.
2. Republic of Korea-ADB: Environment Cooperation Forum held at Four Seasons Hotel, Bengaluru, India, 27th November 2019.
3. R&D Industry Meet at CSIR-NIIST, Industrial Estate, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 23rd February 2018.
4. “3D Groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling (3D GFCTM 2014)” – organized by Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Calicut, Kerala, India, 5-7th May 2014.
5. National Workshop on Water, Air and Soil: Sampling and Analysis (WASSA-2014) organized by Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Calicut, Kerala, India, 11-12th March 2014.
6. Workshop on Characterization of Advanced Materials HEAMCAM-2012, held at Department of Chemistry, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, INDIA jointly organized by IAHEAM and DoC and sponsored by KSCSTE, October 11-12, 2012.
7. Pre ICORS-International workshop on Raman Spectroscopy: Recent Advances, Techniques and Applications, held at Hotel Mascot, Trivandrum, INDIA organised by KSCSTE in association with EduWorld Foundation, August 10, 2012.
8. Workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), held at Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom Trivandrum, INDIA organized by CWRDM, June 16, 2011.
9. Attended a Town Meeting on Grand Challenges for Nanotechnology Solutions for the Environment at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom organized by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) of UK, March 6, 2009.
10. Received training in the use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for speciation analysis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, May-June 2008
11. Attended a lab safety induction course and is involved in the preparation of risk assessments, Division of Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, April 28-30, 2008
12. Organized, Honour Farm Meeting-2020 as part of the Environmental Roadshow 2019 hosted by Korea Trade Office and KEITI (Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute) on 16th January 2020 at National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Visiting Faculty:

1. UGC-Remedial Coaching Scheme, Government of India, Visiting Faculty Programme (2016-17) at School of Chemical Sciences, Kannur University, Payyanur, India for Post Graduate & PhD course Programmes.
2. UGC-Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, 26th Refresher Course in Chemistry (04-24, March, 2014), delivered talks on 21st March 2014 at Kariavattom Campus, Trivandrum, India. Topics: 1. Environmental Chemistry, 2. Design of Wastewater Treatment Strategies.
3. University Grants Commission, Government of India, Visiting Faculty Programme (2012-13) at School of Chemical Sciences, Kannur University, Payyanur, India for Post Graduate Programmes.

Membership in Organizations:

1. Life time member of Centre for Innovative Biology and Environmental Technology (CiBET)
2. Life time member of Materials Research Society of India (MRSI)
3. Life time member of Society for Polymer Science India (SPSI)
4. Life time member of Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI)
5. Life time member of Indian Association of Sedimentologist (IAS)
6. Life time member of Indian Society of Applied Geochemists (ISAG)
7. Life time member of Indian Association of Hydrologists (IAH)
8. Life time member of Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists (IASWC)
9. Life time member of Indian Society of Analytical Scientists (ISAS)

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