City -based Dr. B. Prasanta K. Patro, Chief Scientist at the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad, has been selected for the prestigious National Geoscience Award 2023 by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. His significant contributions to the fields of Geophysics and Applied Geophysics.
Dr. Patro’s journey in science began with a B.Sc. from Berhampur University in Odisha, followed by an M.Sc. from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam. He later joined NGRI and earned his Ph.D. from Osmania University in Hyderabad. His research focuses on the resistivity structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle using the magnetotelluric (MT) method, which utilizes electromagnetic induction to gather data.
Resistivity is a crucial parameter in geophysics, providing insights into the presence of fluids and minerals within the Earth. Dr. Patro’s studies have offered valuable information on seismotectonics and resource exploration, such as hydrocarbons and geothermal energy. His application of advanced MT techniques has tackled various geophysical challenges, revealing diverse electrical structures in the crust and lithosphere of South and Central India, particularly in the Deccan Volcanic Province and Southern Granulite Terrain.
More recently, Dr. Patro’s research has focused on the tectonics of the Himalayas, also using the MT method. He has been developing new 3-D inversion techniques to enhance the interpretation of magnetotelluric response functions.
Throughout his career, Dr. Patro has received several awards, including the Krishnan Gold Medal and Anni Talwani Memorial Prize from the Indian Geophysical Union. He has also been awarded post-doctoral research fellowships at Oregon State University, the Japan Science Promotion Society (JSPS) in Tokyo, and the BOYSCAST fellowship from the Government of India.
Dr. Patro’s ongoing work continues to push the boundaries of geophysics, solidifying his status as a distinguished scientist in his field.
