Prof. K.S. Krishna, Centre for Earth and Space Sciences, School of Physics, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been selected for the National Award of Excellence in the field of Geoscience & Technology.
The Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), New Delhi has communicated in a letter that the selection committee has chosen Prof. K.S. Krishna for the prestigious National Award of Excellence in the field of Geoscience & Technology for the year 2017. Prof. Krishna has been selected for the National Award for his outstanding contributions on geological and tectonic processes of the Indian Ocean.
The award carries of cash prize of Rs. 1.00 lakh, memento and a citation. The award ceremony will take place on 27th July 2017 on the occasion of MoES Foundation Day at New Delhi. Further, Prof. Krishna will be delivering a talk on his major research works during the foundation day.
His extensive research led to understand the Earth’s processes associated with
. Sediment deposition patterns in the Bay of Bengal – link to continental collisions, Himalayan tectonics and Asian monsoon
. Continental rift initiation and evolution between India and East Antarctica
. Lithosphereic responses due to volcanic emplacements and mantle plume interactions with mid-ocean ridge spreading centers
. Plate break-up process in the Indian Ocean in response to continental collisions
About Prof. K.S. Krishna:
Prof. K.S. Krishna has joined the University of Hyderabad recently on 7th July 2017. Earlier he had initiated his career as Seismologist in reputed international Petroleum Industry and served there for more than a year during 1983-84 for exploration of hydrocarbons in onshore Krishna-Godavari and Cauvery basins of eastern peninsular India. Then, he had joined CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa as a Scientist and worked there until 5th July 2017 for carrying marine geophysical research of the Indian Ocean. In addition, he has also served the positions of Professor, Dean and Senator in Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) during 2010-17.
Prof. K.S. Krishna obtained his B.Sc, M.Sc(Tech) in Geophysics and PhD in Marine Geophysics from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. While working at CSIR – National Institute of Oceanography, Prof. K.S. Krishna has participated over 30 research expeditions in various parts of the Indian Ocean for conducting numerous geophysical experiments. Besides, he has been actively involved in international programmes, particularly with Russia, UK, USA and France for carrying collaborative research leading to understand the Earth’s internal structure and dynamics.
Prof. Krishna’s main strength is researching the scientific problem with multi-geophysical approach. Many international researchers have indeed considered his results and tectonic models as reference for advancing the science. Prof. Krishna, in his career, has published more than 95 scientific papers in peer reviewed national and international journals. And also guided 5 research students for their PhD degrees.
In addition to the science activities, Prof. Krishna had contributed to two national important projects, i) mapping of polymetalic nodules in the central Indian Ocean and ii) demarcation of Legal Continental Shelf (LCS) along the Indian continental margins.
As part of industrial research, Prof. Krishna conducted new experiments of seismic refraction using Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) in Gulf of Kutch region for the purpose of mapping hydrocarbon bearing sediments that lie beneath thick igneous shield. And also, he has carried numerous collaborative research programmes with ONGC. Recent collaboration project with ONGC, allowed Prof. Krishna and his team to investigate the state-of-the-art industry qulaity seismic data for understanding the rift initiation and evolution of the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI) and sediment distribution patterns in the Bay of Bengal delivered by Peninsular and Himalayan river systems.
For his scientific works, Prof. Krishna has been earlier honoured with M.S. Krishnan Medal, Decennial Award, National Geoscience Award, Annie Talwani Memorial Prize, Dr. S. Balakrishna Memorial Award and Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize, He has also received JC Bose National Fellowship from DST, New Delhi and Fellowships from National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad; Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; Indian Geophysical Union and AP Academy of Sciences. Also he has served as Associate Editor for the JGR – Solid Earth from 2005 to 2010 and as Member of sectional committees of the Indian Academy of Sciences (2013-15) and Indian National Science Academy (2015-17).