Argus News - NIT Rourkela Scientists Win Top IMS Awards For Climate and Atmospheric Research

Rourkela, Nov 24: Two distinguished faculty members of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at NIT Rourkela have been awarded by the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) for their landmark contributions to climate and atmospheric research, officials said on Monday.

The awards were presented during the International Symposium on Tropical Meteorology (INTROMET-2025) held from November 18–20 at IITM Pune under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Dr. Bhishma Tyagi: IMS Fellowship

Dr. Bhishma Tyagi, Associate Professor, received the IMS Associate Fellowship for his extensive research on thunderstorm dynamics, terrestrial carbon flux, air quality variability, and long-term atmospheric changes over India.

His work has provided critical insights into pre-monsoon thunderstorm behaviour in eastern and north-eastern India, aerosol-linked moisture loading contributing to extreme Himalayan rainfall, and evolving carbon flux dynamics shaping India’s climate profile.

With over 70 peer-reviewed publications, seven book chapters, and multiple projects funded by DST, MoES, and ISRO, Dr. Tyagi has established himself as a leading voice in atmospheric sciences.

Dr. Nagaraju Chilukoti: Young Scientist Award
Dr. Nagaraju Chilukoti, Assistant Professor, was awarded the IMS Young Scientist Award for Best Paper in Tropical Meteorology for his study on monsoon depressions published in Climate and Atmospheric Science (Nature Publishing Group).

His research revealed a doubling of monsoon depressions over the northern Arabian Sea between 2001–2022 compared to 1981–2000, driven by enhanced moisture transport and instability processes. The study highlights the role of combined barotropic and dynamical instabilities in shaping rainfall patterns over northwestern India, offering new perspectives on changing monsoon systems.

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Recognition and Impact

The awards were conferred by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, in the presence of senior officials including Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM Pune), Dr. M. Mohapatra (DGM, IMS), and Shri Anand Sharma (President, IMS).

Congratulating the awardees, NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao said, “These awards reflect the high calibre of scientific contributions made by our faculty and their growing impact on national and global climate research.”

Expanding Role of NIT Rourkela

These recognitions underscore NIT Rourkela’s expanding role in national meteorological forums and highlight its widening research footprint in weather, climate variability, and environmental change. The achievements of Dr. Tyagi and Dr. Chilukoti further strengthen the institute’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge atmospheric science.