India has a huge role in my success

Pankaj Lal was among a handful of scientists to be honoured by outgoing US President Barack Obama with the Presidential Award. 'India Global Business' caught up with him to trace what led to this prestigious achievement and what being a Global Indian means to him.What does an honour like the Presidential Award mean to you I am honoured and excited to receive this prestigious award. It's always exciting for your peers to see the significant value in our work and for federal agencies to invest resources for this. This said, sharing the success with family, friends and students is the greatest reward.Harnessing science for social good and developing sustainable energy and managing natural resources well are some of the grand challenges facing modern society, and I feel satisfied that that our work is contributing a bit towards improved understanding of this area. This award is a testament that hard work will be rewarded at the opportune moment, and will continue to keep me striving for more in the future.What role would you say your Indian roots have played in your success Growing up in India has a huge role in my success. My formative years, at home and in school, instilled in me a strong value-system wherein the importance of hard work and discipline were emphasised. These qualities have stayed with me ever since and play a significant role in the way I conduct my research.India has a rich tradition of math and science emphasis in the education system. This quantitative grounding has helped me do well in my professional career as well. In Indian culture, the role of the teacher commands great respect and brings with it the responsibility to shape the minds of the future generations. During my education in Delhi University and at the Indian Institute of Forest Management, I benefitted from the guidance of numerous professors who were not only great teachers but very good role models.What are your views on the drive towards renewables in India India is taking great strides in renewables these days. The increased emphasis on scientific research, business investments, governmental policies and targets are laudable. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, there is significant disparity in access to energy across the country.As India continues to grow, and millions of people are pulled out of poverty, aspirations for a better quality of life is resulting in increased energy needs. Thus, it is prudent to diversify the source of energy to complement the country's fossil fuel consumption with renewable sources in the short run and increase the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy mix over the medium and long run. India's energy priorities are a step towards adopting cleaner energy technologies to benefit the country from economic and environmental perspectives and I think that the renewable energy sector has very a bright future ahead.Does the academic community in the US have concerns over the new Donald Trump administration It is not unusual to have angst during the transition of political administration. With a new federal government there are many in the academic community who are concerned about scientific priorities and funding. While, there are concerns regarding environmental issues not getting the attention they deserve, the country's energy independence goals are also aimed at increasing agricultural output, farm incomes, rural economic development and job growth.It is still relatively early days to conclusively ascertain the potential impacts of the policies that are likely to be undertaken under the new regime. We will need to wait and watch as things unfold. On an optimistic note, good science always tends to deliver so there will be opportunities as well. And, as scientists we will continue working towards more broadly shared prosperity.What are some of the high points in your academic/research career This Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) is certainly my most prestigious[caption id="attachment_10995" align="alignright" width="421"]

Pankaj Lal with Indian representatives and project partners at University of Florida Stan Mayfield Biorefinery Pilot Plant[/caption]accomplishment to date. I was nominated by the US Department of Agriculture for this award. I have received over $8.5 million in grants from various organisations, including the US Department of Energy, Wildlife Conservation Society, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.In 2015, I was awarded the CAREER Award from the National Science foundation (NSF), which is a prominent award for researchers in my field of work. CAREER Award is the NSF's most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organisations.I am also the Advisory Board member of Rockefeller Foundation and Rand Corporation's initiative on “Valuing the Resilience Dividend”, whereby I provide expert guidance and input to this research on returns to resilience investment.I had some success in terms of grant and research supports and peer reviewed publications in past years and all projects and publications bring with them a satisfaction that that we are doing something special in the study of sustainability of in general and sustainable management of natural and energy resources and its impact on communities in particular.What are the kind of links you continue to nurture with India I have both personal and professional links with India. I have continued to maintain existing relationships and build new collaborations with researchers in India. The establishment of the US-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center, a partnership announced by former President Obama and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh provided an excellent opportunity to work and share ideas with colleagues from institutions such as the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.I have also worked in India in the field of water, forest, renewable and other environmental issues and feel that lot more needs to be done. I nurture and greatly value my professional friends and peers and share my success with them as well.From a personal standpoint, I still have a lot of my family and friends who live in India. So I visit India to spend time with them at every available opportunity.Pankaj Lal, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy and Associate Director PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, Montclair State University, New Jersey. He undertakes integrative, interdisciplinary research that explores interconnections among society and the environment exploring aspects of renewable energy, water, natural resources, and economies.