Dr. M.S. Pandian, Head (head.hsc@pondiuni.edu.in)
The Department of Earth Sciences was
started in September 1994. The Department
is being supported by the FIST programme of
the Department of Science and Technology
(DST) and is poised for a rapid growth. DST
has also sanctioned a National Facility for
Geochronology and Isotope Geosciences in
the department.
The Department is supported by the
University Grants Commissions SAP
(DRS) and the Department of Science &
Technology, Govt. of India FIST
programme to achieve its academic
potentials.
Programmes of Study
M.Sc. Applied Geology (2 year)
M.Sc. Applied Geology (Five year Integrated)
These M.Sc. courses are designed to develop
basic understanding of the earth and the
earth processes, as well as to develop skills
to apply this knowlege to solve problems of
scientific and national importance.
Academic programmes include intensive
supported by modern laboratory facilities.
M.Phil. Applied Geology (Full-time)
Ph.D. Earth Sciences (Full-time, Part-time (External))
These research programmes include courses
to develop research orientation and
supervised research work in conventional
as well as emerging areas of geoscience,
supported by state of the art research
facilities and sophisticated research
equipments including XRD, ICP-AES, TIMS
and heating-freezing stage for fluid inclusion
research.
Entrance Examination
Selection for the M.Sc. (Applied Geology) will
be based on the examination at the B.Sc.
level consisting of objective type questions
in geology. The selection for the M.Sc. Applied
Geology (Five year integrated) will be based
on the entrance examination consisting of
objective type questions in Physics,
Chemistry and Mathematics at +2 level. For
M.Phil. and Ph.D. the examination would
consist of objective questions at M.Sc. level
covering topics like Structure & Tectonics,
Minerology, Economic Geology,
Geochemistry, Igneous and Metamorphic
Petrology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy,
Paleontology, Basic Geophysics, Remote
Sensing, etc. For Ph.D. programme there will
be an interview.
Infrastructure Facilities
The Department has well equipped
laboratories with sophisticated equipments
to cater to the needs of research as well as
practical course-work of M.Sc. students.
Major facilities available in the Department
are listed below:
Mineralogy, Petrology & Paleontology
Laboratories: X-ray Powder Diffractometer,
Isodynamic Magnetic Separator, Polarizing
Research Microscope with Photographic
facility and heating-freezing stage for fluid
inclusion research, Stereoscopic zoom
microscope, Polarizing microscopes.
Geochemistry Laboratory: Inductively Coupled
Plasma Spectrometer, Furnace, Microwave
digestion system, Electronic analytical
balance, Spectrophotometer, Flame
photometer, Conductivity meter, pH meter,
Quartz double distillation unit.
Isotope Geoscience Laboratory: Thermal
ionization mass spectrometer with ultraclean
laboratory to carry out Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd
and U-Th-Pb isotope studies.
Computing and Network Facility: Adequate
number of PCs with internet connectivity
through University intranet and online
access for all top ranking journals.
Remote Sensing & GIS Laboratory: Mirror
stereoscope, Workstation with Intergraph &
GIS software package.
Field Equipments: Global positioning system,
Survey equipments, SLR camera and Digital
cameras.
Geoscience Workshop: Rock cutting machine,
Thin section preparing machine, Mounting
machine for polished ore blocks, Laboratory
ball mill with agate grinding set, Automatic
sieve shaker.
Research Activities
The Department has completed four research
projects( total cost Rs. 36.35 lakhs) sponsored
by DST and CSIR, and has seven ongoing
research projects funded by DST and NSC
(total cost Rs. 91.19 lakhs).
Recognising the research capability of the
Department, DST has provided major funding
under FIST programme (Rs.93 lakhs), and
National Facility Programmes to set up TIMS
lab (Rs. 386 lakhs). Presently, 15 research scholars are enrolled in the Ph.D.
programme. The research areas offered by
the Department are Geochemistry, Isotope
Geochronology, Ore Geology, Sedimentology,
Structural Geology and Tectonics.
Interdisciplinary research with the
Departments of Chemistry and Physics are
being actively pursued in the fields of EPR
spectroscopy of minerals and
Paleomagnetism.
Placement Opportunities
Many students are employed in national
organizations like AMD, GSI, CGWB, NHPC
and private companies. A number of them
have qualified in NET, GATE, etc. and pursue
research programmes in the Department
itself or opted to take up higher studies in
other leading institutions in India and
abroad.
| Faculty |
Qualification |
Specialization/Interest |
Phone |
| Professors |
| * S. Balakrishnan (sbala.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) |
Isotope Geology, Geochemistry |
2655179 |
| * M.S. Pandian (pandian.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad) |
Economic Geology, Mineral Exploration |
2655178 |
| Readers |
| * K.L. Pruseth (klpruseth.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (I.I.T., Kharagpur) |
Experimental ore Petrology, Geochemistry |
2655991 |
| D. Senthil Nathan (senthil.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (I.I.T., Kharagpur) |
Paleontology, Sedimentology |
2655176 |
| Lecturer (Senior Scale) |
| * Rajneesh Bhutani (rbhutani.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad) |
Isotope Geology, Tectonics |
2654490 |
| Lecturers |
| * Pramod Singh (pramods.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) |
Geochemistry, Sedimentology, Paleoclimate |
2654489 |
| Subhadip Bhadra (subha.esc@pondiuni.edu.in) |
Ph.D. (I.I.T., Kharagpur) |
Structural Geology, Metamorphic Petrology |
|
* Recognised as Supervisor for guiding scholars
leading to M.Phil. and Ph.D.
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