Geosciences Unit

The Geoscience Unit (GSU) stands as a keystone of Earth science research, fostering interdisciplinary investigations into geological, climatic, and environmental processes. The unit was established in 1995 as the Geodynamics Unit (GDU), following the visionary initiative of Bharat Ratna Prof. C. N. R. Rao, who recognized the need for integrative research in Earth and environmental sciences to address national and global challenges. The Unit was founded under the leadership of the renowned geologist Prof. K. S. Valdiya, who joined as the founding Professor of GDU and played a pivotal role in shaping its foundational research directions. The legendary figure in Indian geology and a pioneer of Himalayan tectonic studies, Prof. Valdiya brought with him a rich legacy of scientific inquiry and field expertise. While continuing his seminal work on the geodynamics of the Himalaya, he broadened the Unit’s research horizon to encompass dynamic geological belts, zones where sudden phenomena such as landslides and earthquakes pose serious threats to ecological balance and human livelihoods. Under his leadership, the Unit initiated transformative field-based investigations across geologically sensitive regions, including the Biligirirangan Hills in southeastern Karnataka and the Sahyadri Range in western Karnataka and central Kerala. His research unveiled the mechanisms behind geomorphological rejuvenation, anomalous river diversions, the formation of natural dams and lakes, and the emergence of tectonically controlled landforms. These studies not only deepened our understanding of active Earth processes but also laid the groundwork for modern hazard mapping and environmental risk assessment in the region.

Continuing this legacy, the Unit now researches a wide range of topics, including long & short-term climate change, active tectonics, landscape evolution, and environmental geochemistry. Using advanced techniques like geochronology, isotope geochemistry, and computational modelling, researchers analyse natural archives such as caves, lake sediments, river terraces, and coastal deposits. Current projects at the Geoscience Unit include a major focus on understanding the hydroclimatic responses of karst aquifer systems and groundwater recharge dynamics under changing climate regimes. These studies are aimed at supporting rural water security and contributing to the rejuvenation of dried river basins in different parts of India. Ongoing efforts include the assessment of tsunami risk along the Indian coast, evaluation of landslide susceptibility in the Western Ghats, and investigation of anthropogenic and climatic impacts on urban lakes in Bengaluru. Current projects at the Geoscience Unit also focus on understanding the hydroclimatic responses of karst aquifer systems and groundwater recharge dynamics under changing climate regimes, aimed at supporting rural water security and rejuvenation of dried river basins. In collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Theoretical Sciences Unit, GSU is also examining the long-term stability of carbonate-bearing natural hydroxyapatites as part of natural analogue studies with relevance to nuclear waste management, water purification, and biomedicine. 

In addition to its research activities, the Unit is actively engaged in field-based training for students and participates in science outreach programs organized by the Education Technology Unit and the CNR Education Foundation at JNCASR. It also contributes to scientific initiatives under The World Academy of Sciences Centre and South Asian Regional Office (TWAS CASAREP), hosted at JNCASR, thereby strengthening its engagement with both regional and global scientific communities.