SN

Shailesh Nayak

Also known as: S R Nayak

National Institute of Advanced Studies, M S University of Baroda

ORCID iD 0000-0003-2483-3165
Follow

About

Dr. Shailesh Nayak is currently is the Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India. He is a Life Trustee of the India International Centre, Delhi, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Dehradun. He was Distinguished Scientist in the Ministry of Earth Sciences during 2015-2017. He was the Chair, Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) and Secretary to the Government of India for Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), between August 2008-2015. He provided leadership for the programs related to science of climate change, weather services, polar science, geoscience, ocean science and modelling, ocean survey, resources, and technology. He chaired an expert group and conceptualised to establish National GIS in the country.

Dr. Nayak obtained Ph. D. degree in Geology from the M.S University of Baroda in 1980. He joined the Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1978 as a scientist, and subsequently elevated as the Director of Marine and Water Resources. He was mainly responsible for conceptualising, formulating and executing many national level projects related to application of satellite data on ocean colour, integrated coastal zone management, snow and glacier studies and water resources.

Dr. Nayak was appointed as the Director, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under ESSO, in May 2006. At ESSO-INCOIS, he set up a state-of-the-art Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm Surges in the Indian Ocean. He was responsible for the conceptualisation and development of Marine GIS. He made outstanding contributions in improving advisory services related to potential fishing zones, ocean state forecast, and Indian Argo project.

Dr. Nayak is the of Governing Board of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun and Research Advisory Committee of the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, ESSO-Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. He has been member of many national committees related to earth science, coastal protection, mangrove, coral reef, and coastal zone management.

Dr. Nayak is Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Science, New Delhi, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, the National Academy of Sciences, India, Allahabad, the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), and Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics, Paris. He has been awarded honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the Andhra University in 2011, the Assam University in 2013, and the Amity University in 2015, and Graphic Era University, Dehradun in 2024. Dr. Nayak is recipient of IGU - Hari Narain Lifetime Achievement Award in Geosciences-2013, the ISCA Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2012, the Bhaskara Award for 2009, the Indian National Remote Sensing Award for 1994 by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, and the National Mineral Award for the year 2005. He has awarded the Brock Gold Medal by the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for his outstanding contributions in remote sensing and GIS. The Govt. of India has awarded ‘ Padmashri’ a civilian honour in science and engineering field.


Dr. Nayak has published about 250papers in International and National journals and deliver about 250 invited talks in national and international fora.

Employment

  • National Institute of Advanced Studies Director
    2018 - Present

Education

  • M S University of Baroda Ph. D
    1975 - 1980

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (3)