Institutional Profiles
Institutional Profi les
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India
The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) was of rock magnetic facilities. Recently, new laboratories
named after the late Professor DN Wadia, the doyen of and fi eld stations were established for i) earthquake
Indian geology. Established in 1968, it has a mandate precursor research and real time monitoring of
to carry out basic research in the geosciences, and its earthquakes with a VSAT connected network of broad
application to the Himalayan orogenic belt. WIHG is band seismometers (BBS), and ii) Center for Glaciology
a constituent member of the extended Department of (for the study of Himalayan glaciers). The facilities are
Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. available to universities and research scientists from all
The Institute maintains a balance between pursuit of over the country.
science for discovery, and application of knowledge
in geodynamics for the benefi t of society. The vision
Library
is ‘Application of emerging knowledge about earth
processes for fostering sustainable development and
The Institute has a medium-sized specialist library with
secured living in the Himalayan region’. The mission
more than 25,000 titles of books, monographs, journals
is ‘Continuously strive to unravel the geological truth
and seminar/conference proceedings on geology and
related to mountain building, particularly the Himalaya,
mountain building processes with special reference to
for improving understanding of geodynamic processes,
Himalayan geology. It subscribes to 58 national and
climate variability, natural resources, evolution of life,
98 international scientifi c journals in the fi eld of earth
assessment and mitigation of natural hazards’.
sciences not found in any other library in the region.
Major objectives
The basic objectives relate to undertaking, aiding,
promoting, guiding and coordinating interdisciplinary
research in the geology of the Himalaya towards the
development of new concepts and models; coordinating
research activities among different institutions and
universities; organising workshops, seminars, symposia
and training programmes; and serving as the National
Reference Centre for the geology of the Himalaya.
Further objectives focus on collaboration with foreign
research organisations and universities; dissemination of
knowledge and information; affi liation with universities
and centres of higher education to promote Himalayan
geology; and inspiring and encouraging young earth
scientists in the study of the geology of the Himalaya.
Museum
Research
The ‘S.P. Nautiyal Museum’ exhibits geological maps,
The Institute carries out basic research in Himalayan
charts, rare samples, rare photographs collected from
geology and related fi elds which includes geodynamic
different parts of the Himalaya, models, and fossils, as
evolution, mountain building processes, geoenvironment,
well as various educational awareness exhibits including
natural hazards, mineral resources and glaciology.
video fi lms on the Himalaya and general geology. A
It has well-equipped state-of-the-art laboratories with
special attraction -- the ‘Wadia Section’ -- contains fi eld
sophisticated analytical instrument facilities for chemical,
kits, medals, citations, and other objects that belonged
mineralogical and magnetic studies. The laboratories
to Prof DN Wadia.
include XRD, EPMA, SEM, ICP-MS, TL-OSL and a range
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