Dr. Shailesh Nayak is a distinguished scientist and leader in earth sciences. He currently serves as the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies and Chancellor of the TERI School of Advanced Studies. With a Ph.D. in Geology from the M.S. University of Baroda, he held the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, where he led programs in earth system sciences.
Dr. Nayak's contributions include improving weather forecasting, hazard prediction, and monsoon forecasts. He played a pivotal role in establishing a state-of-the-art tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean and developed algorithms for remote sensing applications in coastal and marine environments. His work influenced coastal zone policies and services for fishery and ocean state forecasts.
He is a fellow of esteemed organizations like the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the International Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. Dr. Nayak has received honorary degrees from Andhra University, Assam University, and Amity University, as well as prestigious awards such as the ISC Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award and the Lifetime Geospatial Leadership Award.
Dr. Nayak has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing his expertise in remote sensing and GIS.