Prof. C. Karunakaran Memorial / Endowment Lecture Series

karunakaran4 Prof. C. Karunakaran (1917-1999) was an eminent geologist, brilliant academician and a great visionary whose contributions to Earth Science will be cherished forever. Cheruvari Karunakaran was born on May, 1917 at Thalasseri, Kannur District, Kerala. After obtaining a Masters Degree in Geology from Banaras Hindu University, he began his career as a Geologist in the Mineral Survey Department of Uttar Pradesh and later served as a lecturer in the Presidency College, Madras and in the Department of Geology, Andhra University, Waltair. He had a long and illustrious career in the Geological Survey of India (GSI). After nearly three decades of meritorious service in GSI, he contributed immensely to Earth Sciences in India, which was well recognized by his appointment as the Director General of GSI in 1974. Prof. Karunakaran led the first scientific expedition to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1968 and was also the architect behind the Indian expedition to Antarctica. Upon his retirement from GSI, he led the ONGC operations in the Central Region and later became a member of the Kerala State Planning Board. During this period, he gave shape to the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) in 1978 and became its founder Director, which later became the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS). NCESS was the fulfilment of the dream of this great visionary to establish a unique institution that will study the Earth in its totality. As a befitting tribute to his contributions, the NCESS has instituted the Professor C. Karunakaran Endowment / Memorial Lecture, delivered by eminent scientists in Earth and related sciences every year to benefit the scientific community.

Earth Observations from Space: Benefits for Humanity

28 August 2024

Padma Shri. Dr Shailesh Nayak
Director,
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Bengaluru
Space and Earth Science

04 August 2016

Shri. A. S. Kiran Kumar
Chairman
Indian Space Commission & Indian Space Research Organisation, &
Secretary
Department of Space, Govt. of India
Earthquake Hazard in India-Knowledge and Response

10 August 2012

Prof. Vinod K. Gaur
Distinguished Professor
CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modelling
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
Earth, Life and Sustainability: A long-term perspective

04 August 2011

Prof. Raghuram Murtugudde
Department of Atmospheric & Ocean Sciences,
Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Centre,
University of Maryland, USA
Our Changing view of the Cosmos

13 August 2010

Prof. T. Padmanabhan
Dean,
Core Academic Programmes,
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune
Space for Development of Kerala

11 December 2008

Dr. G. Madhavan Nair
Chairman,
Indian Space Research Organization & ,
Secretary,
Department of Space, Govt. of India
Past and Future Climates: Reponses of the Earth Systems with special reference to Large Rivers and their basins

23 December 2006

Prof. S. K. Tandon
Renowned Geologist & Pro-Vice Chancellor
Delhi University
Ground Water Management: A Key for Sustainability

01 August 2005

Dr. Saleem Romani,
Chairman,
Central Ground Water Board,
Govt. of India
Challenges of Reaching the unreached through Technology

12 July 2004

Dr. V. S. Ramamurthy,
Secretary,
Department of Science & Technology,
Govt. of India
Energy from the Oceans

28 May 2003

Dr. Harsh K. Gupta
Secretary
Department of Ocean Development, Govt. of India
Food for all: Pathway to Sustainable Development

17 July 2002

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan
UNESCO Cousteau Chair in Ecotechnology &
Chairman,
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Thorium- A Sustainable Energy Source for India

23 April 2001

Dr. Anil Kakodkar
Chairman,
Atomic Energy Commission &
Secretary,
Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India
Earth System Science: A Closer View

27 June 2000

Dr. K. Kasturirangan
Chairman,
Indian Space Research Organisation &
Secretary,
Department of Space, Govt. of India