Sunita Varjani's Academic Achievements

Sunita Varjani's Credentials and Achievements

• Academic Positions: Associate Professor at UPES (Feb 2024 - Present), Guest Editor for multiple journals, Adjunct Professor at Korea University and UPES, Visiting Fellow at City University of Hong Kong, Visiting Scientist at EPFL, Switzerland, and Scientific Officer at Gujarat Pollution Control Board
• Publications: Authored 284 research and review papers, 65 book chapters, and presented 97 research papers at international and national conferences.
• Editorial Roles: Executive Editor for Archives of Microbiology, Senior Editor for Sustainable Environment, Editor for Indian Journal of Microbiology, and Editorial Board Member for Current Pollution Reports and Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy
• Professional Societies: Member of The National Academy of Sciences, Executive Committee Member for the International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability , and Management Council Member for The Biotech Research Society, India
• Research Impact: Google Scholar Citation: 22116; h-index: 75 (as of 06.08.2024)
• Awards and Honours:
  • “Environmental Sciences Leader Award 2024,” research.com (ranked #10 in India and #2192)
  • “Rising Star of Science Award 2023” research.com
  • CDC India Ashok Pandey Research Excellence Award - 2023, The Biotech Research Society, India
  • Young Scientist Award (Environmental Biotechnology and Waste Biorefinery) - 2019-20, International Bioprocessing Association
  • Young Scientist Award (Environmental Biotechnology) - 2018, The Biotech Research Society, India
  • Young Scientist Award 2018-19, Microbiologist’s Society India
  • Young Scientist Award - 2018, Association of Microbiologists of India
  • Young Scientist Award - 2018, International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability
  • Highly Cited Researcher (Top 2% in the World), Elsevier Citation Report (2020-Continue)
  • “Highly Cited Researcher 2022” list published by Clarivate’s Web of Science
  • Bioengineered, Taylor & Francis award for Most cited paper for "A critical review on advances in the practices and perspectives for the treatment of dye industry wastewater" (2022)
  • Journal of Environmental Management, Elsevier award for Most Downloaded article for "Conversion of food and kitchen waste to value-added products" (2022)
  • Highly Cited Researcher (Top 2% in the World), Elsevier Citation Report (2021)
  • Bioresource Technology, Elsevier award for Most Downloaded and Cited article for "Microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons" (2019)
  • Bioresource Technology, Elsevier award for Most Cited article for "Critical review on biosurfactant analysis, purification and characterization using rhamnolipid as a model biosurfactant" (2019)
  • Best Paper Awards in national and international conferences in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
  • Certificate of Appreciation - 2017, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

### Institutions in Environment

• WWF-India (World Wide Fund for Nature), New Delhi: Established in 1969 in Mumbai, relocated to New Delhi, with branches across India; focuses on wildlife education and awareness, organizing nature clubs for children, and acting as a think tank and lobby force for environment and development issues.
• Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi: Known for organizing campaigns, holding workshops and conferences, producing environment-related publications, and publishing the popular magazine "DOWN TO EARTH"; authored "State of India’s Environment", the first citizen's report on environmental issues.
• CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPR EEC), Madras: Established in 1988, CPR EEC focuses on spreading environmental awareness and promoting conservation; targets NGOs, teachers, women, youth, and children; implements programs on wildlife and biodiversity issues, and produces numerous publications.
• Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad: Established in 1989, CEE offers programs on environmental topics, produces educational materials, and provides the Training in Environment Education (TEE) program.
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER), Pune: Part of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, BVIEER offers Ph.D, Masters, and Bachelors programs in Environmental Sciences, a Diploma in Environment Education, and runs an outreach program for over 135 schools; biodiversity conservation is a major research focus.
• Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora: A nodal agency that supports NGOs with funding for environmental activities; organizes and trains school teachers to use its locale-specific Environment Education Workbook Program; targets sustainable resource use at the village level by training school children; reaches approximately 500 schools with its environment education program.
• Kalpavriksh, Pune: An NGO that works on multiple fronts: education and awareness, investigation and research, direct action and lobbying, and litigation; conducts talks, nature walks, camps, organizes student participation in campaigns, and works on consumer awareness regarding organic food; responsible for developing India's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2003.
• Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore: Established in 1990; conducts field programs to add to the country's information on threatened biodiversity.

### Key Individuals in Environment

• Indira Gandhi: Former Prime Minister of India; known for her impact on wildlife conservation.
• SP Godrej: One of India's prominent supporters of wildlife conservation and nature awareness programs; recipient of the Padma Bhushan award in 1999.
• MS Swaminathan: Leading agricultural scientist in India; involved in biodiversity conservation of cultivars and wild biodiversity; founder of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, which focuses on conservation of biological diversity.
• Madhav Gadgil: Renowned ecologist in India; works on ecological issues like developing Community Biodiversity Registers and conserving sacred groves, and conducts studies on mammal, bird, and insect behavior.
• Anil Agarwal: Journalist who authored the first report on the "State of India’s Environment" in 1982; founded the Center for Science and Environment, an active NGO that supports various environmental issues.
• MC Mehta: India's prominent environmental lawyer; known for filing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to support environmental conservation; played a role in protecting the Taj Mahal, cleaning up the Ganges River, banning shrimp farming, and promoting environmental education in schools and colleges.
• Medha Patkar: Known for her support of tribal communities affected by dams on the Narmada river.
• Sunderlal Bahuguna: Renowned for the Chipko Movement, a successful conservation action program where local communities protect forest resources; continues to fight against the construction of the Tehri Dam in a fragile setting.

### International Treaties and Conventions

• Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol: Global treaties on ozone layer protection; the first and only to achieve universal acceptance with 197 member nations; the Vienna Convention doesn't include legally binding goals.
• Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal 1989: Adopted in March 1989 in Basel, Switzerland; entered into force in 1992; signed by 187 parties as of October 2018. It aims to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. India ratified the Basel Convention and included some provisions in its Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules of 2016.
• Minamata Convention on Mercury: Global treaty entered into force in August 2017; ratified by 105 parties, including India, as of March 2019. Aims to protect humans and the environment from the dangers of mercury; named after the Japanese city Minamata where local communities were poisoned by mercury industrial wastewater in the 1950s.
• Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992 (CBD): Provides a legal framework for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, entering into force in 1993. Focuses on actions that lead to a sustainable future; governed by the Conference of the Parties (COP). India enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 to address biodiversity issues; has participated in many conventions related to biodiversity conservation based on the CBD.

Explore the impressive credentials and accomplishments of Sunita Varjani, an influential figure in academia and research. From her roles at prestigious institutions to extensive publications, this quiz highlights her contributions to the fields of microbiology and environmental sustainability.