I became a serious researcher of science in 2007, after I came in contact of Prof. Karsten Martin Storetvedt (University of Bergen, Norway). He opened my world to a community that is dedicated to bring scientific advancement, non-dogmatically.
I was awarded the degree of 'Philosophiae Doctor' by Cochin University for Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, India in the year of 2010 for my thesis titled Geology and Geochronology of silica sands of Trivandrum coast with special focus to Late Quaternary Events, under the supervision of Professor (Dr) C.G.Nambiar of same institute. My work focussed to record the geological evolution of the coast of Trivandrum, during Quaternary by studying the depo-centre along the coast. Sediments were collected from as deep as 107 m and undertook textural, micromorphological, palynological, geochronological and geochemical studies. I used FE-SEM-EDAX facilities of Department of Physics, Michigan Tech University, Michigan State, USA for investigating surface characters of sand grains. The XRF facilities of National Geophysical Laboratory, Hyderabad, the luminescence dating techniques of IIT-Roorkee, XRD facility of Centre for Earth Sciences, Trivandrum were also used for analysis. The results enabled to draw out the basinal characteristics and nature of sedimentation, especially during 27,360 + 200 years B.P. The study for the first time brought out a comprehensive understanding of the sub-terrain behaviour of the region.
In addition to my studies related to secure PhD degree, I was keen in deciphering the terrain in and around Kudangulam, Tamilnadu. During my frequent visits to Kanyakumari and around, I observed basaltic dykes appearing as lava feeders in the continental shelf region. These olivine basalts occur in swarms and a few cut the mainland rocks. Geophysical studies were conducted, with the help of IIG-Panvel and IIT-Madras and interesting sub-terrain characters were drawn-out. The work is still pending, due to governmental interference out of anti-nuke movements in Kudangulam. However, the field observations during these operations made me to evaluate critically the concepts of global tectonics - their correlations with ground realities.
Meanwhile, Prof. Karsten and others, introduced me to a geological enigma, mostly underlined and usually overlooked by theoretical perceptions on global tectonics. At this stage I found the real sense of science. I was taught how to judge observations, irrespective of theoretical frames - rather, to question perceptions back and forth with respect to the data (fact). The enthusiasm, thus shooted of, leads me to scan geomorphological, structural, petrological, geochemical and geophysical data of Iceland (the sole island that filliped the idea of mega-horizontal crustal movements in the minds of Prof. Federrick Vine and others). My observations on Iceland (and Svalbard) and the recent discoveries made by Icelandic Oil Company in Jan Mayan made me confident that global tectonic concept, its current version, needs thorough revision even at its perceptional frame.
During the same time I found that there were geologists in India, who raised alarms against blindfolded acceptance of theories in science with dogmatic tint. This made me to convene an International Conference, in 2011, at Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. Under the title Earth Dynamics-Perceptions and Deadlocks (EDPD), scientists and researchers from ten nations met for the first time in India and discussed the pertaining issues underpinned with the data interpretation on tectonics following perceptions dogmatically. Today, I consider my effort turned to be a real success. The thought processes filliped at EDPD is taken up as separate sessions in IGC-32, Brisbane; EGU- 2014, Vienna and the scientific community New Concepts in Global Tectonics has turned up to organize the EDPD conclave once in two years, regularly from 2015 (Parma, Italy in Aug 2015 ; Baku, Azerbaijan in 2017; Denvar, USA in 2019 and Kanyakumari, India in 2021).
At present I focus on computing ''energy used and work done'' during tectonic events, using some techniques employed in particle physics studies. I consider that the quantification of energy consumed, work done and energy/particle (?) released during tectonic event could eventually give hint towards the nature of dynamics that a tectonic event produces. This approach is different from deriving tectonic scales from geological structures (although orogenesis is considered as the work done by the crustal engine). With the help of facilities in Indira Gandhi Centre Atomic Research, Kalpakam, namely the Kamini reactor and the laser induced beam spectroscopy (LIBS) I have started preliminary work in this line (nuclear geochemistry). A modified version, including particle studies has been submitted for the UGC Research Award (present status: recommended by subject expert for the final approval of the UGC).
Research goals for the next five years
I intend to carry forward my research; focusing fact based scientific assessment in the field of tectonics and mechano-geochemistry. My ongoing work in northern mid-Atlantic (Iceland-Jan Mayen based) and in Arctic will be pursued to understand the tectonic behavior of the region.
Documentation of Research Work
A comprehensive list of my contributions in global scientific endeavor is added in my CV.
