Director’s Message

You are welcome to the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) at Dehradun. This is an autonomous institute of Dept. of Sci. & Tech. (DST), Govt. of India, which came into being in 1968. It has been pursuing basic researches to unravel the orogeny of majestic Himalaya and provide improved understanding on seismogenesis, geodynamics, climate-tectonic interaction, biotic evolution, ores/minerals forming processes, glacial dynamics, fluvial system, hot/cold springs, geo-hazards (landslides, floods, avalanches, earthquakes), anthropogenic impact etc. towards the well-being of population and safe-guarding the properties and structures in the Himalaya and adjoining areas. The research activities to understand the mountain building processes and shed light on above themes are based on observations and modelling of different sets of data on structural geology, petrology, geochemistry, paleontology, biostratigraphy, sedimentology, glaciology, hydrology, geomorphology, geophysics, quaternary geology, remote sensing etc. The institute is equipped with sophisticated analytical facilities like LA-MC-ICP-MS, Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer, EPMA, ICP-MS, XRF, SEM, XRD, Raman Spectrometer, TL/OSL, Magnetic Susceptibility meter etc., run by competent scientists and technicians. It has state-of-the-art geophysical data acquisition, processing and interpretation laboratories with as many as 75 Broad Band Seismographs and 16 Acceleragraphs spread over H.P., Uttarakhand, J&K, Punjab, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh. Around 20 GPS instruments are installed in H.P., Uttarakhand, J&K and Ladakh. The Institute has been nurturing a unique set up to perceive changes in subsurface properties that may lead to earthquake precursory study in the Himalayan region by hoisting and monitoring an integrated ‘Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory (MPGO)’ at Ghuttu in Tehri district of Uttarakhand. The facilities are being utilized by the scientists of Wadia as well as researchers from state & central universities, other institutes and organizations. The institute also provides consultancy services for engineering projects, drinking & ground water surveys, natural hazards, road & rail alignments in the Himalaya and adjoining region. During the glorious journey, a few scientists have brought accolades with the Padma Awards, many researchers with the National Geosciences Awards, Academy Fellowships, Young Scientists Awards. The institute serves as a National Centre of excellence in Himalayan Geoscience Education and Research; provides summer/winter training to over 100 students, produces 10 Ph.Ds. as trained man power and publishes over 100 research papers in peer-reviewed journals every year; collaborate with Universities, Industries and other Institutes on Himalayan Geosciences; maintains a modern Geological Museum for Education; conducts outreach programs for Science Education and Geo-hazards awareness; organizes illustrious Award Lectures and National/International Seminars etc. The vision of WIHG is “Questing for Himalayan Seismogenesis, Geodynamics, Natural Hazards, Climate Variability and Natural Resources through Geoscientific study to fulfil the Societal Needs and pursue Basic Sciences”.