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Dawn Sebastian

Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8837-8515
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About

Dawn Emil Sebastian is a hydrologist specialising in assessing climate change impacts on the water sector and examining the critical role vegetation plays in the hydrological cycle. She earned her PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, focusing on the intricate role of vegetation in land - atmosphere moisture interactions. Her research delved into how vegetation's response to hydro-meteorological variables varies across different spatio-temporal scales and integrated these insights into a hydrological modelling framework. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kerala and an MTech in Water Resources Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

At IIHS, she investigates peri-urban lake catchments undergoing rapid land-use transformations driven by urbanization. Her research involves understanding the evolving catchment dynamics through GIS/RS based mapping, hydrological monitoring and modelling. Through sustained stakeholder engagement, Dawn actively advocates for a catchment-based approach to lake conservation, emphasizing that effective planning and management must encompass the entire catchment, not just the waterbody itself.

Before IIHS, Dawn served as Scientist B at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management in Kozhikode, Kerala. In this role, she contributed to many research and consultancy initiatives aimed at enhancing water resources management, especially addressing the rising climate-related disasters. She has also organised numerous training programmes, educating Kerala's stakeholder departments on climate change and its implications for water resources.
Before joining IIHS, Dawn served as Scientist B at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management in Calicut, Kerala. In this role, she contributed to many research and consultancy initiatives aimed at enhancing water resources management, especially addressing the rising climate related disasters. She also organised numerous training programs, educating Kerala’s stakeholder departments on climate change and its implications for water resources.

Employment

  • Indian Institute for Human Settlements Assistant Professor
    2025 - Present
  • Indian Institute for Human Settlements Consultant - Academics & Research
    2024 - Present
  • Centre for Water Resources Development and Management Scientist B
    2019 - 2024

Education

  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay M Tech
    2013 - 2015

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (9)