Scientist and Science-Communicator
BUT they stand up
and walk away
as if
nothing had happened.
During the course of research, visited many academic institutions in France, USA, Germany, Switzerland and UK . About 50 research contributions (including abstracts), several research presentations, several (co-authored)science project guidebooks for students, about 30 popular science- articles/ science poems, about 50 radio talks/ scripts including 10 radio feature-episodes, and 50 TV programmes including a dozen TV documentary scripts to credit. Published the research work in several national and international journals such as Geophys. Rev Lett, Suppl to J Geophys Res., Ap J, Proc Ind Aca Sci, Earth Planet Sci Lett. and proceedings. Also presented many papers, gave seminars and attended about 25 scientific conferences/ Workshops/ Seminars in India and abroad and an equaly number on science communication. Places in India where presented papers in conferences/ lectured, include BARC, Mumbai; Univ. Roorkee (now IIT); PRL, Ahmedabad; Indian Instt Science , Bangalore; Anna University, Chennai (rapporteur's lecture in IGBP symposium)and Instrumentation Research and Development Establishment, Dehradun (Science Day- 2007 speaker).
Research work included isotopic mass spectrometry to decipher characterstics of solar energetic particles; residence time of rocks and soils on planetary surfaces based on Ne and Ar systematics; K-Ar and irradiation ages of meteorites and Ar-Ar ages of terrestrial rocks, evolution of planetary bodies in the early solar systems and Palaleoclimate. Experimental work included UHV and other instrumentation for Mass spectrometry and K-Ar and radiocarbon dating.
Recipient of several scholarships like merit and national as well as doctoral, post doctoral, INSA-DFG fellowships. Received recognition in research including INSA medal for Young Scientists; International Student Travel grant award from Meteoritical Society, USA and First prize for paper from Indian Society for Mass spectrometry, Bombay. Also gave seminars/presented papers in several institutions such as UCSD,& UNM in USA ; MPI (Heidelberg) & Koln Univ.in Germany and Univ. Bern in Switzerland. Also interacted with scientists at Univ Missourie (Rolla), Washington University, St Louis ( USA), ETH (Zurich),Paris University; universities at Heidelberg and Munster (Germany). A Fellow of Geological Society of India.
Had a noticeable presence on the science popularisation scene in the country during nineties and the current decade. A Fellow of NCSTC- Network. Also known as an expert, writer, poet, talker, compere, script-writer and anchor and commentator for magazines/ newspapers/ radio and TV, especially on topics of science. Received honours for contributions to science popularisation through print and electronic media from Vigyan Parishad, Allahabad ( Vigyan Vachaspati); Distt. Science Clubs of Allahabad (UP Vigyan Sancharak- 2002), Uttaranchal Development Activity Institute, Dehradun( Vigyan Udai Samman- 2006), Meerut ( (Meerut Vigyan Ratna, 2002)) and also Barabanki - 1995 and 2002( Vigyan Jyoti ,1995, 2001). Honored by Rotary Club, Meerut; Shivalik College, Punjab; CIMAP, Lucknow; and others. Life Member of several academic societies.
Had an active role in organisation of science events. During 2001 and 2002; Convenor, NCSTC-Network, the biggest Indian Network of governmental and non-governmental science communication agencies. National Coordinator of National Children's Science Congress(2000) and its National Workshop(1994). Gen Secretary of the UP-NCSC Committte since inception to 2004 and now Adviser. Nominated as Chief Adviser, Uttaranchal Development Activity Institute and Senior Adviser, PAHAL. Associated with the science communication activities of many governmental and non governmental organisations; many schools, colleges and universities; NCSTC-a part of DST, Government of India; and State Science and Technology Councils of many states in Gujrat, Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Co-coodinated 'Science for School Children' session during Science Congress-2002; Convenor, NCSC-2003 held at Lucknow during Dec 27-31, 2003. Co-ordinator of BSIP Science Day functions and Hindi Pakhwara for several years. A member of the organising committees for Year of Scientific Awareness-2004 (UP); Conference of Materials Research Society of India- 2006, UP- CST Committee- 2006 for Satelite- Based Education Centre under the auspices of Vigyan Prasar, ISRO and CST; Principal Coordinator, Public Lectures on Science -2006 at Lucknow University; Convener of a national Hindi S & T Terminology Seminar at BSIP during May- 2006, Nano- Technology Worskshop at Univ. of Lucknow in 2007. A frequent invitee as expert to the Science communication training workshops in 6 states in India and delivered over 60 lectures in over 30 workshops. An invited expert at INTEL/ IRIS and UNICEF workshops. Nominated to the faculty of a Distance Science Communication course co-ordinating institutions and contributed chapters to its study material and in course- finalisation workshops of 2 institutions.
About 250 popular lectures/ talks/ Face- to - Face sessions in Hindi, English and Garhwali languages to credit on topics of science for students and general public at schools, colleges , universities, on TV and radio, The TV programmes included the live commentary on the Total Solar Eclipse-95 for National TV Network, a live TV programme (including phone-in) on Sahara channel on Venus Transit on June 8, 2004 and interviews on Star, ETV, Sahara and other channels. Anchored the Vigyan rail and many other documenraries from Lucknow Doordarshan. A number of talks and interviews, both live and recorded, on AIR Delhi, Lucknow FM as well as Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, Nazibabad and Shimla centres. Scripted and presented the science magazine programmes on Lucknow Doordarshan. Scripted a ten-episode-science feature broadcast by Lucknow centre of Aakashvani (radio)during October and December 2005. Investigated the Muhnochwan menace in UP leading to solving the problem. Addressed six Intel STDF/ IRIS Workshops and other science- related events.
Also contributed to six activity guide books for children's science through editing or co- authoring, edited abstract volumes of conferences and SFSC and the booklet "Beyond the Rainbow: The Colours of Science". Compered about 20 programmes at BSIP, the recent ones being such as ones to celebrate Founder's Day, Foundation Day for several years at BSIP,Lucknow Diamond Jubilee international and national condrences and also Ground Water Day for UP-2005 at Ganna Sansthan ; 'Hello Young Scientist' Award Function and eminent Scientist's lecture at CST-UP (2005), Geographical Index: Protection and Registration at Yojana Bhawan-UP(2006)and Public Lectures on Science (PLS)by Prof CNR Rao and Dr RA Mashelkar at Lucknow University-2006 and Diamaond Jubilee Celebrations at BSIP (2006). As principal coordinator of PLS project, conceptualised and carried out the AV documentation of lectures along with scripting and narration. Also brought out them as a booklet. Was Academic Coordinator of the 'Science Writing Workshop' by District Science Club, Lucknow and BSIP (June 30- July 1, 2007). At present, also involved as a writer in a science-serial for the national Radio channel on "Dharti Meri Dharti"
Contributed to/ encouraged science communication as Expert, Master resource person,judge in national and international science festivals like RSC- Lucknow's, NCSC, IRIS- 2006, IID- 2006 and McFair (3 years). Chief Guest,Key note speaker, Patron, Workshop co-ordinator and organising committee member etc.in science programmes/competitions/ science communication workshops.
Present research interests include application of isotopic, chemical and geochronometric methods to global change/ palaeoclimate studies especially during Late Quaternary and its corroboration with palaeobotanical/ palynological parameters.
Keen at collaborative studies in palaeoclimate, planetary studies and also science communication.
Contact Details: Scientist-in- Charge, Geochronometry and Isotope Lab, BSIP, 53, University Road, Lucknow- 226007 Residential Address: 11/298/12, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-INDIA-226016. E-mail : cmnautiyal@yahoo.co.uk, cmnautiyal@rediffmail.com Phone : 091-0522-2712218(R), 091-09415107078 (Mob), 2740008, 2740011, 2740399, 2740413(off.)
