PREAMBLE

• Recognising the importance of strong coupling among various components of Earth, viz. Atmosphere, Oceans, Cryo-sphere and Geo-sphere, vide Presidential Notification dated 12th July 2006, Ministry of Ocean Development was reorganized as Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) after bringing India Meteorological Department, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida and Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre, Delhi, under it. Subsequently, Earth Commission was constituted in January 2007 and the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) was set up in October 2007.
• The Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) operates as an executive arm to implement policies and programmes of the Ministry. It deals with four branches of earth sciences, viz. (i) Ocean Science & Technology (ii) Atmospheric and Climate Science (iii) Geoscience and (iv) Polar Science and Cryosphere. The ESSO has been addressing holistically various aspects relating to earth processes for understanding the variability of earth system and for improving forecast of the weather, climate and hazard.
• The ESSO/MoES deals with scientific aspects related to weather, climate and hazards (atmosphere, ocean, solid earth) exploration of resources in high seas including Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India and scientific investigations in the Polar regions.
• In order to provide due recognition and platform to major scientific contributions made by eminent scientists/engineers in various fields of Earth System Science and also considering the need to encourage young researchers for coming into the mainstream of Earth System Science, the ESSO has instituted the National Earth SystemSciences Awards.
• The National Earth System Sciences Awards shall be given on the occasion of Earth Sciences Foundation Day Celebrations ie. 27th July every year.
• Any citizen of India who is a professionally qualified scientists/engineer/technologist/ academician with significant contribution in any field of Earth Sciences is eligible.
• Nominations are invited for National Earth System Sciences Awards for 01 Life Time Excellence Award, 04 National Awards and 02 Young Researcher Awards. The Awards shall be given each year. The Life Time Excellence Award carry an award money of Rs.5,00,000/-; National Awards carry an award money of Rs.1,00,000/- each and Young Researcher Award carry an award of Rs.50,000/- each.
• The Awards shall be conferred on persons who, in the opinion of the Search-cum-Selection Committees, have made outstanding cobtributions in the particular field of their endeavour with due consideration, to the totality of the achievements of the nominee(s).

NATURE OF THE AWARDS

The Earth System Sciences Awards shall be given under three categories as stated below :

• Life Time Excellence Award in the sphere if Earth System Sciences
• National Awards of Excellence
• Young Researcher Award

Life Time Excellence Award (One)

The Life Time Excellence Award shall be conferred to an outstanding scientist/engineer/technologist/academician with an exceptionally high lifetime achievement for a sustained and significant contribution in the field of Earth System Sciences.

National Awards of Excellence (Four)

National Awards shall be given for meritorious contribution in the field of Ocean Science & Technology, Atmospheric Science & Technology, Geoscience & Technology and Polar Science and Cryosphere to scientists/engineers/technologists/academicians individually.

Young Researcher Awards (Two)

Young Researcher Awards will be given to researchers below 35 years of age as on 31st December of the year of Award to encourage excellence in young minds for outstanding research work in the fields related to Earth System Sciences.

ELIGIBILITY FOR NATIONAL EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES AWARDS

• Any citizen of India who is a professionally qualified scientist/engineer/technologists/academician having meritorious background with significant contributions in any of the fields for which the Awards are given shall be eligible for the National Earth System Sciences Awards.
• The award shall be given on the basis of contributions made through work done for most part in India.
• There is no upper limit of age except for Young Research Awards.

AWARD MONEY

• The Life Time Excellence Award will carry a cash prize of Rs.5,00,000/-, a citation and trophy.
• The National Awards shall carry a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/- each, a citation and trophy and
• The Young Researcher Award shall carry a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- each, a citation and trophy.

NOMINATIONS

1. The nominations for the Awards can be forwarded every year by any of the following organization through the designated authorities mentioned below :

• Central Government Ministries/Departments (nominations to be proposed by the Secretary/Director General/Chairman)
• Scientific/Professional/Academic Societies of All India Character (nominations to be proposed by the President)
• Academic and research institutions, Centres of Excellence, etc. (nominations to be proposed by the Chief Executive Officer or equivalent)
• State Governments (nominations to be proposed by Secretary, Science & Technology of the State)
• Central and State Govt. Public Sector Undertakings (nominations to be proposed by the Chairman/CMD)
• Recipients of Life Time Excellence Awards can also nominate outstanding scientists/technologists/academics
• Search-cum-Selection Committee can also nominate outstanding scientists/technologists/academics
• All the recipients of Awards can also nominate a candidate for Young Researcher Awards

2. The nominations received in a particular year shall be valid for a period of three years i.e. nominations received in 2015 shall be considered for 2016 and 2017 also.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

• The Search-cum-Selection Committee has been constituted to recommend selection of the Awards.
• The decision of the Search-cum-Selection Committee shall be final and binding on all.
• No representation will be entertained on the recommendations of the Sponsors.
• Canvassing in any form during the selection procedure would lead to permanent disqualification of the nominee.

SCHEDULE

The grant of Awards for a particular year shall be based on the calendar year ending 31st December. The time schedule for the Awards will be as follows:

• Circular calling for nominations for the National Earth System Sciences Awards shall be issued on or before 20th January each year or by any subsequent date as decided by the Chairman-ESSO.
• Nominations stating significant achievements made by the nominee upto the 31st December preceding the year of Award (the date of assessment) must be submitted by 31st May, 2017.

PRESENTATION CEREMONY

Presentation of the Awards will be made on the occasion of Earth Sciences Foundation Day on 27th July every year.

CORRESPONDENCE

Any correspondence with participant will be done through an email provided by the participant at time of filling the application form. Organizers are not liable in case of email delivery failures. For any queries, please send mail at: vivek.mishra[at]moes[dot]gov[dot]in