Dr.S.S.Randhawa has been associated with State Council for Science Technology & Environment since 1993 and presently working as Senior Scientific Officer. Born on 26th November 1965, joined Honors School in Geology , Punjab University Chandigarh in the year 1984 and did B.Sc. (Hons.) from Department of CAS in Geology, PU Chandigarh in 1987 and completed his Masters in 1988 and then M.Phil in 1989. He has also done B.Lib & Information Science from Punjab University Chandigarh 1991.While working in the State Council has carried out various studies particularly on the mapping of natural resources in Himachal Pradesh using space data, exploration of ground water using space data, and various geotechnical studies particularly for NHPC, HPSEB in Himachal Pradesh as well as in Jammu & Kashmir. Also has the credit to undertake snow and glacier studies in Himachal Pradesh for the first time using satellite data along with Space Applications Centre Ahmadabad and generated the complete inventory of Himalayan glaciers in Himachal Pradesh on 1:50,000 scale. Also carried out studies for the mapping and management of Natural Disasters in Himachal Pradesh using satellite data and also carried out Training Need Assessment (DM) in Himachal Pradesh for various stakeholder departments as a major input for the Govt of Himachal Pradesh. Presently coordinating activities of the Himachal Pradesh State Centre on Climate Change established under the aegis of the State Council for Science Technology & Environment. Has the credit to work with SWISS Scientist and carried out a study under Indian Himalayan Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) in Kullu district and undertook mapping of Permafrost in Indian Himalayan for the first time using space data. Member of the Indian Scientist team who visited Switzerland in 2015 on a exposure visit under ICHAP program. Besides this, visited China (two times), Austria and Germany and presented the work done in Himachal Pradesh on glaciers and disasters using space data. Has published than 35 Research Papers in various National & International Journals and also co author in the one of book chapter along with Swiss Scientists on GLOFs (Glacial lake Outbursts Floods).

Dr. Yash Pal Sharma superannuated as Head, IARI, Regional Station Amartara shimla (H.P) in 2012. Born on 1st October, 1950, he has obtained his B.Sc. (Agriculture) in 1971 and M.Sc. in Plant Pathology in 1973 from College of Agriculture of Solan, Dr. Sharma completed his Doctorate in Plant Pathology from GBPUA&T, Pantnagar in 1977. He has started his career as Scientist S-1 Plant Pathology through Agricultural Research Services-1977 batch. He has served various.ICAR Institutes on different capacities for 35 Years including Principal Scientist and Head Plant Pathology, Joint Director (HQ) at ICAR research Complex for NEH Region Barapani, Shillong, Head, DWR, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla. After Superannuation from IARI Shimla he has served as Emeritus Scientist at IARI Shimla till January 2015. A meritorious student throughout his career, Dr. Sharma is a recipient of merit fellowship in Graduation programme besides being a recipient of ICAR Junior and Senior Fellowship Master’s and Doctorate programme. He was conferred Pesticide India award in 1984. He is life member of different professional societies of Plant Pathology. Dr. Sharma has published more than 140 research articles including number of book chapters, research bulletins, extension bulletins, popular articles and two books. He is widely known for his work on horticultural crops like citrus, temperate fruit crops and field crops including pathotype variability in wheat rusts. He has done commendable work on Integrated Farming System Research for rainfed hill agriculture through watershed development programmes and their extension in farmers’ field in North East India.

Pankaj Sharma (Ph.D. Botany) has more than five years of research experience and nearly four years of undergraduate teaching experience in Maharaja Lakshman Sen Memorial College, Sundernagar, Himachal Pradesh. He has worked in G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kullu and in ICAR- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Shimla as Senior Research Fellow and Research Associate. His work includes ecological assessment of floristic diversity, phytogeography, endemism, traditional knowledge, identification of threat categories and prioritization and management of plant communities in Himachal Pradesh. He has special interest of the studies on impact of climate change to floristic biodiversity of the Himachal Himalaya. He has authored and edited two books and published more than 15 peer reviewed research papers in the journals of national and international repute.

Pratima Vaidya is M. Sc. Forestry with specialization in the field of Environmental Management from Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. She has worked on climate change, land use change, soil and water pollution, carbon sequestration and climate change vulnerability studies. She was awarded with INSPIRE Fellowship by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India during Ph.D. studies. She has authored more than 5 research papers in reputed national and international level scientific journals and contributed one chapter in the edited book.

Shubra Randhawa (MSc. M.Tech Env. Engg) has more than five years of research experience in H.P. State Centre for Climate Change. Her specialization is in the field of Climate change, Solid Waste Management & Natural Resource Management (wetlands). She has good academic record and did her M.Sc.in Environmental Sciences with specialization in Solid Waste Management from Panjab University, Chandigarh and M.Tech. in Environmental Engineering from PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh. She has attended many workshops and seminars.

Pooja Rana (M.Sc. Geology, PG Diploma in Remote Sensing & GIS) has more than five years of research experience. She is working as Scientific Professional in H.P. State Center for Climate Change. Her work includes temporal analysis of landuse/landcover changes using space data, Vulnerability and risk analysis of geohazards in Himalayan region. She has special interest in the application of remote sensing & GIS techniques in snow & glacier studies, climate induced hazard studies and geological hazard studies.

Abhay Mahajan (Ph.D. Forestry) has completed his doctorate from Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.). His work includes the studies on forest composition on regeneration and growth attributes of chirpine and sustainability of Himalayan chirpine forest. He has special interest of the studies on Silviculture, Forest Biometrics and Quantitative Silvicultural Research. He has handled LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyser, HTC LX-101 Digital Lux meter, Digital pH meter and Flame photometer, computers (MS Office and Q-Basic language).He has authored one book, published 3 research papers and 2 research papers that are likely to be published soon. He has the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and to work independently and in a team towards shared goals and develop research methodology, manage research projects, and summarize research findings in technical reports and research papers.

Kiran Lata (MSc. Botany) she has done MSc. from Punjab University Chandigarh with Specialization in Ethanoecology. During the course of master’s studies she evaluated the importance of certain key plant species of Kullu region, Himachal Pradesh. She is presently working as scientific professional in State Centre for Climate change. Her research interests include long term ecological monitoring and forest based ecosystem studies