Satish Ramnath Shetye received MSc (Physics) (1973) from IIT Bombay and PhD (Physical Oceanography) (1982) from University of Washington, USA. He was Research/Teaching Assistant, University of Washington (1975-82); and Research Associate (1982-84), Scientist C (1984-89), Scientist E-I (1989-92), Scientist E-II (1992-97), Scientist-F (1997-2004), and Director (2004- ), all at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dr Shetye has worked on virtually all aspects of physical oceanography of the waters around India. Starting 1987, his group carried out ship-based observations and recorded characteristics of the annual cycle of the waters around India, including seasonal currents. These characteristics could not be explained with the theories available then. Dr Shetye and coworkers have carried out theoretical and model studies, that have played a significant role towards evolution of a new theoretical framework to understand not only the coastal circulation around India, but also the circulation of the entire North Indian Ocean. His later studies helped gain new insights into the variability of the thermal field in the North Indian Ocean and the manner in which it is modulated by the Indian Summer Monsoon. Beginning early 1990s, he initiated a study on variability of sea level along the coast of India. This led to improved understanding of dynamics of tides along the coast, and impact on coastal sea level of processes like storm surges, currents, and, most recently, tsunamis. Since mid 1990s, he has worked on dynamics of Indian estuaries. This work for the first time included study of hydrology of rivers that feed the estuaries during monsoons, and give the estuaries a distinct temporal variability.

Other Contributions: Shetye has served as Member of the Council of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (1998-2003), CSIR Governing Body (2004-07), INSA Council (2005-07), Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2006- ), and Earth Commission, Ministry of Earth Sciences (2007-09). Since 2001, he is Editor of the Journal of Earth System Science, earlier Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences (Earth & Planetary Science).

Awards and Honours: Dr Shetye received the SS Bhatnagar Prize (1992), New Millennium Science Medal, Indian Science Congress (2000), HN Siddiquie Memorial Lecture Award by Indian Geophysical Union (2004), and Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Bombay (2006). He was elected Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (1984); and Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore) (1992), and National Academy of Sciences (India) (Allahabad) (2000).