SHIVA Project, supported by ANR (National Research Agency, FRANCE)

PARTNERS

BRGM

BRGM is France's leading public institution involved in the Earth Science field for the sustainable management of natural resources and surface and subsurface risks.

Fields of Research

The main objectives are to (i) understand geological phenomena, develop new methodologies and techniques, and produce and disseminate pertinent, high-quality data (ii) provide public authorities with the necessary tools for drawing up policies for surface, subsurface and resource management, prevent natural risks and pollution, and regional development and planning.

BRGM's activities, geared around ten themes, can constitute a precious decision-support tool.

• Mapping and geoinformation
• Mineral resources
• Geothermy
• Geological storage of CO2
• Water
• Post-Mining
• Development planning and natural risks
• Contaminated land and waste management
• Environmental metrology
• Digital information systems

SIRS - Systèmes d'Information à Référence Spatiale

IFP - Institut Français de Pondichéry

The French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP), UMIFRE 21 of the CNRS-MAE, is a financially autonomous institution under the dual supervision of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). It is an integral part of the network of 27 research centres connected with this Ministry.

Fields of Research

• Indology :
• Indian analyses of Sanskrit language and literature
• History of religions
• Tamil studies
• Social Sciences :
• Health and Societies
• Economy and societies
• Environment and societies
• Ecology :
• The Palaeo-environments of South India
• Application of new information technologies for strengthening of Taxonomic expertise
• Biodiversity elements in the Western Ghats
• Usage of biodiversity and ecosystems modified by human activity

CSH - Centre de Sciences Humaines

The Centre de Sciences Humaines(CSH) is part of the network of 27 research centres of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2007 it became an UMIFRE (no 20), a joint MAEE-CNRS research unit. The Centre's activities are primarily oriented towards the study of issues concerning the contemporary dynamics of development in India, in its regional and international context.

Fields of Research

As a research centre, the overall objective of the CSH is to examine India as an emerging power on the international scene, and to analyse the various transition processes that affect India and the South Asian region. The research activities are thus focused on four main areas:

• Economic reforms and sustainable development
• Politics and society
• Regional dynamics in South Asia and international relations
• Urban dynamics

LMTG

The LMTG is part of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées. It is a joint research unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS-INSU), the University of Toulouse III and the Institute for Research and Development (IRD), three major funding agencies in France. The LMTG is devoted to the Earth Science studies. The experience and qualification of LMTG researchers comprise a unique expertise in water-rock interaction processes, in weathering processes from the plot to the watershed scale, in the monitoring of small and large watersheds, and in the role played by weathering processes in the Earth system. It is one of the French leading institute in the study of Earth surface processes. The LMTG benefits from the infrastructure of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées.

Researchers of the LMTG are involved in large number of national and international projects. They are involved in the Critical Zone Exploration Network funded by the US NSF. Several projects lead by CNRS-LMTG researchers and related to the geological sequestration of CO2, to weathering processes at the large watershed scale, to erosion processes have been recently funded by the French National Agency for Research. Finally, the CNRS-LMTG is responsible for two Environmental Research Observatories funded by the CNRS and the IRD: the Hybam (Hydrology of the Amazon Basin) and the BVET (Small Experimental Watersheds in Tropical Environments).

Indo-French Cell for Water Sciences (IFCWS)

The Indo-French Cell for Water Sciences (IFCWS) is a joint laboratory between the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) set up in 2001 in the IISc campus, Bangalore. The long-term goal of IFCWS is to develop a framework for Environmental Geosciences to study the issues pertaining to water. The current collaboration based upon complementary skills has been established with the departments of Civil Engineering and Materials Engineering. IRD scientists have expertise in integrated watershed studies combining geophysics, geochemistry and hydrogeology as well as setting up and management of Environmental Observatories while the contribution of IISc faculties includes hydrological and hydrogeological modelling, soil physics, geomicrobiology and materials engineering. Three research projects are under investigation in Karnataka. The first, with respect to water and soil resources, namely Watershed Project, aims to understand the relative influence of both environmental and anthropogenic factors. The Kabini river basin, Karnataka Plateau has been chosen to set up a field laboratory including small experimental watersheds and gauging stations on sub-basins. The second project, namely Mining Project, deals with the environmental impact of metal mining from sulphide ores at the Chitradurga mining site. The third project aims to understand the resource management of coastal aquifers of Karnataka with collaboration of NITK. This has been taken up at Surathkal on the seashore of the Arabian Sea. IFCWS serves also as an exchange and training platform for students and scientists from both countries. The team includes students at PhD and Post-graduate level.