Eminent environmental scientist and Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University, Professor Maharaj K Pandit of Delhi University (DU) has been invited by the National University of Singapore (NUS) as "Ngee Ann Kongsi  Distinguished Professor" for a period of 5 months.

"This invitation is a recognition for Prof Pandit's achievements in the field of biodiversity and environmental conservation. Professor Pandit whose book "life in the Himalaya-An Ecosystem at Risk" was published by the Harvard University Press last year would be visiting NUS from January 7 to June 8, 2019", a DU official said.

"Your scholarship and achievements in the field of biodiversity and environmental conservation and management is internationally distinguished. You have made pioneering contributions to our current understanding of the interconnectedness and complexity of climate-water-biodiversity-food-energy nexus in the Himalaya and South and South East Asia. The impact of your work on societal issues and environmental efforts both in Asia and internationally is real," said letter from Kang Hway Chuan, Director , University Scholars Programme , NUS.

The "Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Professorship" is awarded to internationally renowned professor to spend one semester at the NUS in order to facilitate interactions with the academic community with an eye towards potential future collaborations. In the past two years NUS have hosted Michael Fischer who is Andrew W. Mellon professor of Humanities, Anthropology and Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Mary Darymple who is Professor of linguistics at Oxford University.

Professor Maharaj. K .Pandit said that the problem of water scarcity and availability of potable water is posing a big challenge to humanity and will worsen in coming days if sustainable solutions are not found.  He said that in the Indian sub-continent management of water by employing technology and policy intervention holds the key to water security.