Hi, I'm Prof. Suresh C Rai, Professor & Head, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
I did my Master of Science in Geography from Banaras Hindu University in 1979 and also awarded PhD degree in Geography from Banaras Hindu University in 1984. I had served as a Scientist in G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India) from 1989-April 2005.
My significant contributions are in the field of land and water resource management, watershed management, wetland ecosystem and groundwater hydrology. My outstanding work on the Integrated Watershed Management in the Sikkim Himalaya has been recognized through the Soil and Water Conservation Society of USA, Award, 1999. I also made significant achievements in Hydro-ecology of a sacred lake, Indigenous knowledge and Enterprise based community linked biodiversity conservation on major tourist destination in Sikkim. The extensive studies made by me on various aspects of mountain hydrology have not only helped in understanding the structure and function of the systems, but also in finding out means of how to make the system sustainable. I was also involved in the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India sponsored project on designing and construction of low-cost polythene-based water tanks in rainfed hills and farm-based technology packages. I was also associated in various capacity and positions with many Institutions and Organizations. I had participated and delivered lectures in a number of meetings organized by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Core Projects “Biospheric Aspects of Hydrological Cycle” (BAHC), IAHS/IAH, Taiwan Group on Earth Observations (TGEO), International Geographical Union (IGU) and International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP).
I have published more than 100 research papers in various Impact Factor/Peer-Reviewed Journals and books (Scopus h-index-17). I have also authored 8 books to enrich the discipline. I have been awarded International Medals-2020 for the personal merits and the development of relations with the Republic of Moldova and Romania. I also have received “Life Time Achievement Award, 2019”, from Land Use Management (CLUMA), Hyderabad, Telangana. I have been awarded “Highly Commended Paper Award- 2016” from Willey and Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), London, U.K. also honoured with “Professor Bandaru Hema Malini Eminent Geographers Award- 2013” by National Association of Geographers, India (NAGI) Delhi. I have received “Honourable Mention Best Paper Award for 1999” by Board of Directors of Soil and Water Conservation Society, USA, and En-gratis Membership Awarded by Ecological Society of America, from 1999 to 2004. I have received Honorary Appointment to the Research Board of Advisors, 2000 by The Board of Directors, Governing Board of Editors, and Publications Board of The American Biographical Institute, USA. Since 2010, I am serving as Secretary General of the National Association of Geographers, India (NAGI), the largest society of the Geographers in India. I was elected Vice President of Asian Geographical Society, Headquarters at Beijing, P.R. China for four years (2019-2023).