Past Directors

Dr Shailesh Nayak is currently Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies and Distinguished Scientist in the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He was the Chair of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and Secretary to the Government of India for the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), between August 2008 and 2015. He provided leadership for the programmes related to the science of climate change, weather services, polar science, geoscience, ocean science and modelling, ocean survey, resources, and technology. 

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

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 conceptualization and development of Marine GIS. He made outstanding contributions to improving advisory services related to potential fishing zones, ocean state forecasts, and the Indian Argo project. 

Dr Nayak is the Chair, National SCAR Committee, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, Research Advisory Committees of the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, ESSO-National Antarctic and Ocean Research Centre, Goa and Defense Terrain Research Laboratory, Delhi. He has chaired an expert group and conceptualized to the establishment of National GIS in the country and been a member of many national committees related to earth science, coastal protection, mangrove, coral reef, and coastal zone management. 

Dr Nayak is a Fellow of the 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 an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the Andhra University, Assam University and Amity University. Dr Nayak is the recipient of the IGU - Hari Narain Lifetime Achievement Award in Geosciences-2013, the ISCA Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2012, and the Bhaskara Award for 2009. Dr Nayak has been awarded Lifetime Achievement Award (India Geospatial Leadership Award) for outstanding contributions to the development and dissemination of Geospatial Technologies in India by the Geospatial Media and Communication, New Delhi in February 2019.  Eleven students have obtained Ph. D. under his supervision. 

He is the President of the Federation of Indian Geoscientists Associations, Indian Geophysical Union, Indian Society of Remote Sensing and Indian Mangrove Society. He was the President, of the International Geological Congress, the Chair, of the Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System, and the Vice-Chair of the Inter-Governmental Coordinating Group on the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System; Indian Ocean–Global Ocean Observing System and Indian Ocean Observing System Resources Forum. Dr Nayak was the President, of ISPRS Technical Commission IV on ‘Geo-databases and Digital Mapping’ for the term 2004-08. 

Dr Nayak has published about 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals and delivered about 190 invited talks in national and international fora.

Prof Ramamurthy is a well- known Indian nuclear scientist with a broad range of contributions from basic research to science administration. Prof Ramamurthy started his career in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai in the year 1963. He has made important research contributions, both experimental and theoretical, in many areas of nuclear fission and heavy ion reaction mechanisms, statistical and thermodynamic properties of nuclei, physics of atomic and molecular clusters and low energy accelerator applications. During the period 1995-2006, Prof Ramamurthy was fully involved in science promotion in India as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi. 

He was also the Chairman of the IAEA Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Applications for nearly a decade. After retirement from government service, Prof Ramamurthy, in addition to continuing research in Nuclear Physics in the Inter-University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi has also been actively involved in human resource development in all aspects of nuclear research and applications. Prof Ramamurthy is also a Chairman, Recruitment and Assessment Board, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Member, National Security Advisory Board. In recognition of his services to the growth of Science and Technology in the country, Prof Ramamurthy was awarded one of the top civilian awards of the country, the Padma Bhushan, by the Government of India in 2005.

Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan took his Bachelor of Science with Honours and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Bombay University and received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971 working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He was the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) at Bangalore (2004-2009), and is Honorary Professor of Physics, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Research at Bangalore. He was also a Member of Upper House of Indian Parliament (2003-2009). For over 9 years until 2003, Dr. Kasturirangan steered the Indian Space programme as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Under his leadership, the programme witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India's prestigious launch vehicles, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, the development and launching of some of the world's best civilian remote sensing satellites, IRS-1C and 1D, new generation INSAT communication satellites, besides ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. As an Astrophysicist, Dr. Kasturirangan's interest include research in high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy. He has made extensive and significant contributions to studies of Cosmic x-ray and gamma ray sources and effect of cosmic x-rays in the lower atmosphere. 

Dr. Kasturirangan is a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics and served as its Vice President. He is a Member of the International Astronomical Union and a Fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is a Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences and served as its President during 2001-03. He is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering and was its President during 2005-06. He was also General President of the Indian Science Congress for the years 2002-2003. Besides, he is the Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and the National Academy of Sciences of India. He is the Honorary Fellow of the Cardiff University, UK; and an Academician of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican City. 

He has won several awards including Brock Medal of International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, (2004), Allan D Emil Memorial Award of the International Astronautical Federation (2004), Theodore Von Karman Award by International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), France (2007), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering, Aryabhata Award 2003 of Astronautical Society of India, Lifetime Achievement Award of Asia-Pacific Satellite communications Council, Singapore, Aryabhata Medal by Indian National Science Academy (2000), Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Award by the Indian Science Congress, Award of Jewel of Ruia, Ruia College Alumni Association, 2007; Maharana Udai Singh Award 2007-08 by Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, 2008; Rajayogindra Award, Maharaja of Mysore, Mysore, 2008; Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal, Indian Science Congress, Shillong, 2009. He has been conferred with the highest civilian honours Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the President of India and Award of ‘Officer of the Legion d’honneur’ by the President of the French Republic, France. 

Dr. Kasturirangan formalized the Doctoral Programme at NIAS soon after he took over as Director in 2004, initiated many research programmes as well as developed the much needed infrastructure for interdisciplinary research and teaching activities of the Institute.

Dr Raja Ramanna, the Founder Director, immensely contributed to the growth and development of this Institute. Over a period of time, NIAS initiated several research programmes and other activities that brought recognition and fame. 
NIAS is a registered society (on 20 June 1988) under the Karnataka Societies Registration Regulation Act. The Institute is an autonomous organisation governed by a council of management. It is located on the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru campus and was established in 1988 with Dr. Raja Ramanna as the Founder Director until his retirement in July 1997. 
 
Over the years, NIAS has moved towards fulfilling the dreams of its founder JRD Tata. As a multidisciplinary Institute, NIAS combines scientific and humanistic perspectives on national and international importance topics. 
Activities of NIAS include research, analysis, publications, and teaching. Following the ideas of its founder, NIAS has also been an educational centre for future leaders of India through its courses and educational programmes. 
NIAS has created a unique ambiance wherein researchers, scholars, speakers and visitors from a variety of disciplines interact in a meaningful manner. 
The PhD programme that was initiated in 2004 has added to the dynamism with exploratory interest in many interdisciplinary areas of research.