Shailesh Nayak

Shailesh Nayak is a scientist whose work spans climate, weather, the oceans, polar science and geoscience. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of science and engineering, from Delhi ^[1].

ISRO

He was born on 21 August 1953 and earned a PhD in geology from the M.S. University of Baroda in 1980 ^[2]. He joined ISRO’s Space Applications Centre in 1978 and rose to direct its marine and water resources group ^[2]. There he led national projects using satellite data to study ocean colour, coasts, snow and glaciers, and water resources ^[2]. His detailed mapping of India’s coast informed the government’s coastal regulation zone rules ^[2].

Tsunami warning

In 2006 he became director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services in Hyderabad, where he set up an early-warning system for tsunamis and storm surges in the Indian Ocean ^[2]. He also improved advisory services such as forecasts of likely fishing zones and ocean conditions ^[2].

From 2008 to 2015 he was Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences ^[2]. He now directs the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru and is chancellor of the TERI School of Advanced Studies ^[2].

He was president of the International Geological Congress from 2015 to 2017 and has published about 190 papers ^[2].