Ramaswamiah Srinivasan did his MSc (1963) and PhD (1988) from Mysore University specializing in precambrian geology. He was Consulting Geologist (1973-86), Geomysore Services, Bangalore. Since 1986, he served National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad in various positions.

Academic and Research Achievements: Srinivasan has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Archaean rocks of the Dharwar craton - one of the best exposed terraces for studying the development of the early crust. He was a pioneer in studying the Archaean sedimentation and palaeogeography of southern India. He distinguished the platformal zone and provided evidence for fluvial sedimentation on Archaean platforms where they are associated with subaerial volcanics. His structural studies have shown that the Dharwar supracrustal rocks of both low and high metamorphic grades, the Peninsular Gneiss and the charnockites show structural unity. Integrated studies on structural history, sedimentation, volcanism and geochemistry in conjunction with geochronology, led Srinivasan to draw a connected sequence of development of the different rock groups forming the old crust. The migmatitic and gneissic pebbles in the Dharwar sequence as well as the negative europium anomalies found in the Dharwar greywackes led him to suggest that an upper granodioritic crust had differentiated in the Archaean and served as the provenance for Dharwars. Finally in recent years, he has discovered some new occurrences of stromatolites with evolved forms in these old rocks; studies on these features, together with microbiota have helped in defining the shore line of the Archaean sedimentary basins here.

Other Contributions: He is Treasurer (1977-80) and Secretary (1980-82), Geological Society of India. He is a Member, International Association of Sedimentologists, National Working Group, Geological Society of India (1984-92) and National Committee of IGCP 319. He is an Editorial Board member of Indian Journal of Earth Science.

Awards and Honours: Srinivasan is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, Geological Society of India and Mineralogical Society of India.