Scientist and Science-Communicator
BUT they stand up
and walk away
as if
nothing
had happened.
Dr. Nautiyal is a very well known science- populariser and -communicator too, active in science writing, broadcasting, telecasting and organising scinec programmes, having been also involved in several national level science- dissemination programmes.
Born in Meerut (1956) and after BSc Hons in Physics, obtained degree of MSc (Physics) from University of Roorkee (now IIT-Roorkee). Had been Best Boy of the college, President's Scout and won 3 scholarships as a student and later 3 research fellowships. Received several honours in science, including INSA medal for Young Scientists, and also for science communication. Held position in various science- and other societies at college and university. Joined Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and worked in the mass spectrometry section of Geocosmophysics group for PhD followed by Post doctoral research. Was a scientific collaborator in a project studying Lunar samples from Apollo (NASA) and Russia's Luna mission. Joined Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, INDIA and has been in the field of isotope mass spectrometry and Radiocarbon Dating, applying them to the chronology of objects in the solar system and Palaeoclimate respectively. Interested in isotope- and geochemistry-based approach to Palaeobotany and Palaeoclimate.
He has been to France (1980), USA (1884), UK (1984), Switzerland (1989), Germany (1989- 90, 2006) and South Africa (2009)and visited many academic institutions there. During 1989- 90, had spent some months at Max Planck Instt., Mainz and Heidelberg on INSA- DFG Fellowship. European Science Open Forum - 2006 at Munich was attended with support from Forschungszentrum, Juelich (Germany)and 2nd African Science Communication Conference- 2009 at Johannesburg (SA) with organisers' full support and presented 2 papers.
Over 60 research contributions (including abstracts)on scientific research as well as science communication, several research presentations, several (co-authored)science project guidebooks for students, about 35 popular science- articles/ science poems, about 50 radio talks/ scripts/ reports/ on regional and national channels including 10 radio feature-episodes and an episode for a serial on national hook- up, and 50 TV programmes including a dozen TV documentary scripts to credit. Dr. Nautiyal is known for popularising science especially in Hindi. 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., J. Sci. Com. and conference proceedings. Also presented many papers, gave seminars and attended about 25 scientific conferences/ Workshops/ Seminars in India and abroad and an equal 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),Instrumentation Research and Development Establishment, Dehradun (Science Day- 2007 speaker), CIMAP (CSIR), CDRI (CSIR), ITRC (CSIR), Inter- University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi and Vigyan Parishad, Prayag.
Research interests have included isotopic mass spectrometry to decipher characterstics of solar energetic particles and their nuclear effects; 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 and radiocarbon dating for Archaeological and Palaleoclimatic work. Experimental work included UHV and other instrumentation for Mass spectrometry and K-Ar .
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 and of Soc. Earth Scientists.
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, 2002, 2008( Vigyan Jyoti. Honoured by Rotary Club, Meerut (1990); Shivalik College, Punjab; CIMAP, Lucknow; and others. Life Member of several academic societies.
Had an active role in organisation of science events. has been a member of the project evaluation/ monitoring committees of UP Council for Science & Technology and Uttaranchal Council for Science and Technology, also of organising committees for Year of Scientific Awareness-2004 (UP); Conference of Materials Research Society of India- 2006, UP- CST Committee- 2006 for Satellite- Based Education Centre under the auspices of Vigyan Prasar, ISRO and CST- UP; 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 and Polychar16 (International conference) at Lucknow in 2008. During 2001 and 2002, Convenor, NCSTC-Network, the biggest Indian Network of governmental and non-governmental science communication agencies. National Coordinator (Academic) of National Children's Science Congress(1999, 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 Andhra, 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. Was Academic Coordinator of 2 'Science Writing Workshop' by District Science Club, Lucknow and BSIP (June 30- July 1, 2007, June 26- 30, 2008)and coordinator of the All India Radio workshop on Popularsing Science (Feb. 4-8, 2008) for 4 states. A member of the organising committee for Science Expo- 2009 at Reg. Science City, Lucknow. A frequent invitee as expert to the Science communication training workshops in 7 states in India and delivered about 75 lectures in about 35 workshops. Nominated to the faculty of a Distance Science Communication course co-ordinating institutions and contributed chapters to their 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 Doordarshan, Star, ETV, Sahara, Channel 9 and others. 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,Jammu, Lucknow, Pune, Nazibabad, Shimla and Lotus Radio (South Africa). 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 and wrote foa serial on AIR, national. Investigated the Muhnochwan menace in UP leading to solving the problem. Addressed six Intel STDF/ IRIS Workshops and other science- related workshops of different institutions e.g. NCSTC Network, Navoday Vidyalay.
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". In addition to many at BSIP, including the Diamond Jubilee international and national condrences, also compered 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, Material Science International Conference and Diamaond Jubilee Celebrations at BSIP (2006)and many seminars. 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. Coordinated two 3-day Science Journalism Workshops (BSIP and Distt. Science Club, Lucknow)and one 5-day 'Popularising Science' workshop for Regional Training Instt. of All India Radio. Also published 3 reearch papers on science communication in national and international journals/ proceedings. Wrote a ten episode science based serial for AIR, Lucknow (2005)and one episode for the "Dharti Meri Dharti" on national radio channel(2008). He has been special guest and delivered invited lectures on Hindi as well as in Hindi on science at the invitation of a number of national institutions such as CDRI (CSIR), CISTH (ICAR), ITRC (CSIR), CIMAP (CSIR), Kribhco- Lucknow, Doordarshan Lucknow, BSIP (DST), Vigyan Prasar (DST) and others.
Contributed to/ encouraged science communication as Expert, Master resource person, coordinator of workshops. Judged in national and international science festivals like NCSC, Eureka,IRIS- 2006, IID- 2006 and McFair (4 years), Central Schools (2008), J Navoday Vidyalay (2008), and also over 2 dozen science- related competitions of RSC- Lucknow and others. Chief Guest, Key note speaker, Patron, Workshop co-ordinator and organising committee member etc.in science programmes/competitions/ science communication workshops.
Recognition include INSA Medal for Young Scientists- 1988; First prize for paper at ISMAS Symposium, Bangalore; International Student Travel grant Award by Meteoritical Society, USA (all for research), Vigyan Vachaspati by Vigyan Parishad, Prayag; UP Vigyan Sancharak Award by Science Club and VICAS, Allahabad; Vigyan Jyoti by Science Club and CSC- Barabanki; Vigyan Ratna by Science Club and Jagriti, Meerut. Also honoured by Shivalik College, Naya Nangal, Punjab and Science Club, Deoriya
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, and Coordinator (Jt.), Geophysical and Geochemical Investigations into Quaternary Climate Reconstruction, BSIP, 53, University Road, Lucknow- 226007. INDIA
Residential Address: 11/298/12, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-INDIA-226016. E-mail : cmnautiyal@yahoo.co.uk, cmnautiyal@rediffmail.com Phone : 091-0522-2742937, 091-09415107078 (Mob), 2740008, 2740011, 2740399, 2740413(off.)
