Sunita Varjani's Academic Achievements

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the main activities of the World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-I)?

Developing technological solutions for wildlife tracking

Organizing nature clubs for children (correct)

Providing medical assistance for health issues

Conducting intensive scientific research

Which publication is associated with the Center for Science and Environment (CSE)?

Nature and You

Biodiversity Today

The Environmental Chronicle

State of India’s Environment (correct)

What is the focus of CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPR EEC)?

To establish wildlife reserves

To promote conservation among specific groups (correct)

To research environmental policies

To develop new environmental technologies

What year was the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) established?

1989 (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which institute offers a Diploma in Environment Education for in-service teachers?

Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the training program offered by CEE primarily aim to achieve?

To train environment educators (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of programs does the CPR EEC conduct to promote environmental awareness?

Variety of conservation-focused programs (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which entity works as a think tank and lobby force for environmental and developmental issues?

World Wide Fund for Nature - India (A) Signup and view all the answers

What unique feature does Biodiversity Conservation emphasize in its environmental education efforts?

Target audience from primary school to post graduate level (B) Signup and view all the answers

What major initiative does Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN) focus on?

Organizing and training school teachers (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does Kalpavriksh play in India's National Biodiversity Strategy?

It was responsible for developing the strategy (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of research does the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History focus on?

Threatened biodiversity information (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following activities is NOT mentioned as part of Kalpavriksh's initiatives?

Educating about renewable energy sources (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who was Dr. Salim Ali, in the context of the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History?

A conservation scientist who supported environmental efforts (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of materials do Biodiversity Conservation develop for education?

Locale specific environment education materials (B) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi's Environment Education Workbook Program primarily target?

Sustainable resource use at the village level (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who personally chaired the meetings of the Indian Board for Wildlife?

Indira Gandhi (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which individual founded the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation?

MS Swaminathan (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of MC Mehta's legal work?

Environmental conservation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which movement is Sunderlal Bahuguna best known for?

Chipko Movement (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was Anil Agarwal's contribution to environmental awareness in India?

Writing the first report on the state of the environment (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which ecologist developed Community Biodiversity Registers?

Madhav Gadgil (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which individual is recognized for the Padma Bhushan award related to wildlife conservation?

SP Godrej (B) Signup and view all the answers

Who has been a strong advocate for the rights of tribal people affected by the Narmada dams?

Medha Patkar (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of the Minamata Convention on Mercury?

To protect human health and the environment from mercury exposure (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conventions provides a legally binding framework for biodiversity?

Convention on Biological Diversity (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many parties had ratified the Basel Convention by October 2018?

187 (D) Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred in the city of Minamata in Japan in the 1950s?

Outbreak of mercury poisoning due to industrial wastewater (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of the Vienna Convention regarding goals for member countries?

It had no legally binding goals (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which legislation in India reflects the provisions of the Basel Convention?

Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (A) Signup and view all the answers

When did the Convention on Biological Diversity come into force?

1993 (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many member countries are associated with the Montreal Protocol?

197 (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which award recognizes young scientists in the field of environmental biotechnology?

Young Scientist Award (Environmental Biotechnology) (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a h-index of 75 for a researcher's Google Scholar profile?

It reflects both the quantity and citation impact of research articles. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How many original research and review papers has Sunita Varjani published?

284 (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which scientific society is Sunita Varjani a member of as an Executive Committee Member?

International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the journal 'Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy' for which Sunita Varjani serves on the editorial board?

Advances in sustainable chemical practices (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which publication is associated with the highest impact factor listed?

Current Pollution Reports (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of research was recognized by the award for the most cited paper from Bioengineered?

Treatment of dye industry wastewater (C) Signup and view all the answers

In which year was Sunita Varjani selected for the National Academy of Sciences?

2021 (A) Signup and view all the answers

What professional role did Sunita Varjani hold at the Gujarat Pollution Control Board?

Scientific Officer (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many book chapters has Sunita Varjani authored?

65 (B) Signup and view all the answers

The highest award indicating citation impact recognizes the top percentage of researchers globally. What is this indication called?

Highly Cited Researcher (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does Sunita Varjani play as an executive editor?

Executive Editor of Archives of Microbiology (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which organization awarded the Best Paper Award to Sunita Varjani multiple times?

The Biotech Research Society, India (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the objectives of the course outcomes listed for the students?

Fostering analytical and technical skills in the environment (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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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.