Dr. K. Kathiresan, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., is a honorary professor in Annamalai University, formerly Dean and Director, in Faculty of Marine Sciences in Annamalai University.
Dr. K. Kathiresan is a world-class scientist in mangrove environment, placed among top 2% scientists in the world, and is ranked first in India for marine biology and hydrobiology, as assessed by Stanford University, USA. Two of his research papers on mangroves are among top 10 in the world.
He spent most of his academic career in mangrove research. He undertook extensive field works in mangroves of India and 15 other countries. In India, he discovered a mangrove species, compiled over 5,000 species, identified 20 rare species, and prepared a checklist for mangroves. He demonstrated raising of mangroves in degraded environment, its tsunami-mitigating effect on human kill, carbon sequestration potential, and fisheries economic benefits. His work on mangrove bioprospecting is pioneering one.
He executed 27 projects, guided 40 Ph.Ds, and organized over 100 training programmes for benefit of 28 countries. He has totally 534 publications including 298 research papers, 56 book chapters,15 books edited/authored, etc.
As National Consultant, he involved in preparation of guidelines for management of Indian mangroves for Govt. of India and IUCN. He is Vice-President of Mangrove Society of India and National Institute of Ecology.
Currently Dr. K. Kathiresan is a member in the Steering Committee of the All India Coordinated Programme on Taxonomy, under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Govt. of India. He is also serving as a member in Tamil Nadu State level Sub-Committee on mangroves and coral reefs (since 2005). He is a member of IUCN Mangrove
Specialist Group. Currently he is the Vice President of National Institute of Ecology, Jodhpur and also Vice President of Mangrove Society of India, Goa.
He visited many countries namely Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Abu-Dhabi, Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Senegal, Gambia Nigeria and Germany.
Dr. Kathiresan is a recipient of many awards, to cite a few “Tamil Nadu Scientist Award” and, International “NAGA” award by World Fish Centre. He is the Elected Fellow of National Institute of Ecology in 2004, “Mangrove Society of India ” in 2017 and National Academy of Biological Sciences in 2019.
