Head, 'Water, Climate and Hazard' Division
I am an environmental scientist with a particular interest in ‘water, climate change, and hydrometeorological hazards. I have done research for more than 20 years on interdisciplinary areas in the interface of natural science, environmental science, and social science. I did his Master of Science in Physics in 1993, M. Phil in Environmental Science in 1995(Dissertation on Climatology of Guwahati City) and Ph. D. in Environmental Science (Hydrometeorology of rainfall in northeast India with sepecial reference to the Brahmaputra Rivetr Basin, India) in 2005, all from Gauhati University, Assam. I have received training on various thematic areas of my interest from reputed institutions like the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune; Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok; Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal; Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai; Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development, Bangalore, and Tezpur University, Tezpur.
My areas of research interst: Climate variability and change, water and climate induced disasters, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, resilience, flood and erosion management, socio-hydrology, eco-hydrology, rivers and riverine islands, wetland, ecosystem services, water quality, environmental and social impact assessment of development interventions, environmental(environment, water, climate, development) governance and policy, water conflict, transboundary water and river management, natural resources management, environmental migration and application of geospatial technology in environmental research.
I have explored, researched, spoken, and written regularly on various aspects of climate-water-disaster-development nexus, with particular reference to the Brahmaputra-Meghna River basin in India as well as Northeast India in general. I have been advocating for comprehensive review and reforms in existing institutions, policies, and practices, highlighting the need for long-term action plans and strategies for effective water and river management, risk mitigation, and climate resilience integrating good science and technology with people’s indigenous knowledge and local experience. I have completed more than 25 research and action research projects and have more than 45 publications comprising research papers in national and international journals, technical reports, monographs, book chapters, edited books, and thematic articles.
I have delivered presentations, invited talks and keynote speeches as well as acted as a Resource Person in more than 200 events (seminars, conferences, workshops, symposiums, consultations, training programs, discussion forums, and awareness meetings including webinars and other online forums) both in India and abroad. I have worked as a consultant to several national and international agencies. I have also experience in teaching environmental science, environmental education, natural resources management, climate change, and natural disasters at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in several educational institutions and colleges including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences-Guwahati, India.
Recently I received the ‘Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship in Climate Change’ from the Department of State, US Government. I visited the USA in the month of August 2022 for three weeks under this program and interacted and exchanged information and knowledge with academicians, scientists, non-government organizations, and policy makers on global and regional issues related to climate change. Presently, I am working as the Head of the ‘Water, Climate, and Hazard Division’ of Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org), a premier environmental NGO in Northeast India.
I am a member of severl expert committees formed by governments, and reputed institutions in india and abroad.
