Recognising the importance of strong coupling among various components of Earth, viz. Atmosphere, Oceans, Cryo-sphere and Geo-sphere, vide Presidential Notification dated 12th July 2006, Ministry of Ocean Development was reorganized as Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) after bringing India Meteorological Department, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida and Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre, Delhi, under it. Subsequently, Earth Commission was constituted in January 2007 and the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) was set up in October 2007.

The Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) operates as an executive arm to implement policies and programmes of the Ministry. It deals with four branches of earth sciences, viz. (i) Ocean Science & Technology (ii) Atmospheric and Climate Science (iii) Geoscience and (iv) Polar Science and Cryosphere. The ESSO has been addressing holistically various aspects relating to earth processes for understanding the variability of earth system and for improving forecast of the weather, climate and hazard.

The ESSO/MoES deals with scientific aspects related to weather, climate and hazards (atmosphere, ocean, solid earth) exploration of resources in high seas including Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India and scientific investigations in the Polar regions.

In order to provide due recognition and platform to major scientific contributions made by eminent scientists/engineers in various fields of Earth System Science and also considering the need to encourage young researchers for coming into the mainstream of Earth System Science, the ESSO has instituted the National Earth SystemSciences Awards.

The National Earth System Sciences Awards shall be given on the occasion of Earth Sciences Foundation Day Celebrations ie. 27th July every year.
Any citizen of India who is a professionally qualified scientists/engineer/technologist/ academician with significant contribution in any field of Earth Sciences is eligible.

Nominations are invited for National Earth System Sciences Awards for 01 Life Time Excellence Award, 04 National Awards and 02 Young Researcher Awards. The Awards shall be given each year. The Life Time Excellence Award carry an award money of Rs.5,00,000/-; National Awards carry an award money of Rs.1,00,000/- each and Young Researcher Award carry an award of Rs.50,000/- each.

The Awards shall be conferred on persons who, in the opinion of the Search-cum-Selection Committees, have made outstanding cobtributions in the particular field of their endeavour with due consideration, to the totality of the achievements of the nominee(s).

The Earth System Sciences Awards shall be given under three categories as stated below :

Life Time Excellence Award in the sphere if Earth System Sciences
National Awards of Excellence
Young Researcher Award

To know more details and/or to participate, click here.