George Joseph (scientist)

George Joseph (born 4 August 1938) is an Indian space scientist, best known for his contributions to the development of remote sensing technology in India, especially in the field of earth observation sensors. He is a former chairman of the Lunar Mission Study Task Force of the Indian Space Research Organization and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Indian Academy of Sciences and Indian National Academy of Engineering. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 1999.

George Joseph
Born (1938-08-04) 4 August 1938
Chengannur, Madras Presidency, British India
NationalityIndian
Known forPioneering contribution to the Indian Space programme in the area of earth observation technology.
AwardsPadma Bhushan (1999)
Scientific career
FieldsSatellite Imaging Sensors, Remote Sensing and Space Science
InstitutionsSpace Applications Center, ISRO, Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific(affiliated to UN)
Websitewww.profgeorgej.com

Early life

"George Joseph was born on 4 August 1938 to Advocate MG Joseph (Vydhianveetil family, Chengannur, Kerala) and Alice (Kaipanattu family, Puthuppally, Kerala). After completing schooling, he joined  St.Berchmans College, Changanassery and also studied at Alagappa Chettiar College in Karaikudi and University College, Trivandrum. He served as lecturer at Union Christian College, Aluva and at CMS College Kottayam. Afterwards he was a trainee at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Bombay.

Joseph is married to Mercy (Kolathu Puliyelil family, Maramon, Kerala) and they have two sons Joseph (Gibu) and Mathews (Reji)."

Research career

Joseph started his research career in 1962 at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR), Bombay, where he was involved in the study of cosmic rays.[1] Based on his research work at TIFR he was awarded PhD degree by the Bombay University. A novel detector system designed by him was flown on the first Indian satellite Aryabhata (satellite) to detect solar neutrons.[2]

Contributions to the Indian Space Programme

In 1973, Joseph was invited to join the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad-one of the centers of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO),and initiated the development of remote sensing technology particularly sensors of various types.[3] He has been the guiding force in the design and development of all the earth observation cameras on board Indian Remote Sensing Satellite(IRS) and INSAT. He served ISRO in various capacities including Director, Space Applications Centre and took keen interest and initiative to ensure the fruits of space technology reach common man. One of the noteworthy contributions of Joseph is the study report on Indian Mission to Moon in the capacity as Chairman, Lunar Mission Study Task Force.[4][5]

Joseph has served in a number of national and international committees/organizations including President of Technical Commission -I of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)[6] during 1996–2000 and Director, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), (affiliated to the United Nations), with headquarters at Dehradun during 2006–2009.[7][8][9]


Positions Held

2010-2018 :- Honorary Distingushed Professor, ISRO

2006-2009 :- Director  Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), Affiliated to the United Nations

2003-2006 :- Honorary Distingushed Professor, ISRO

1998-2003 :- Satish Dhawan Distinguished Professor

1994-1998 :- Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad

1990-1994 :- Associate Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad

1985-1994 :- Dy. Director (Remote Sensing), Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad

1975-1985 :- Head, Sensor Development Division, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad

1973-1975 :- Scientist/Engineer, Remote Sensing & Meteorology Applications Division,Space

Applications Centre, Ahmedabad

1970-1973 :- Fellow, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay

1962-1970 :- Research Associate, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay

1961-1962 :- Trainee (Physics), Atomic Energy Establishment School

1959-1961 :- Lecturer in Physics, Union Christian College, Alwaye (Affiliated to the  University of Kerala)


Special Responsibilities/Assignments (International /National)

2012 Member Scientific Advisory Committee, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore.

2010 :- Chairman Review panel of TIFR Balloon Facility.

2010:- Member,’State Council of Climate change’, Govt: of Himachal Pradesh

2004 -2006 :- Member, Governing Council, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad

2003-2004: –  Member of the International Academy of Astronautics Study Team on `Space to promote peace –initial focus on reconstruction of Afghanistan.

2002-2004 :-  President, Indian Society of Remote Sensing.

1999-2001 :- President, Gujarat Science Academy.

1999 onwards :-  Consulting Faculty, Taleem Research Foundation, Ahmedabad

1997-1998 :-  Member, Steering Committee, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, C-DAC, Pune

1997-2000 :- Member, Research Council, National Institute of Oceanography

1996-2000 :- President, Technical Commission-I, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)

1996-1999 :- President, Indian Society of Geomatics

1994-1997 :- Member, Research Council, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta

1994-1996 :- President, Indian Society of Remote Sensing

1993-1996 :- Vice-President, Indian Society of Geomatics

1993-1996 :- Member, Management Council, Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction (VIKSAT)

1992-1998 :- Member, Andhra Pradesh State Remote Sensing Applications Centre Society.

1989-1998 :- Member, Governing Body of Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum

1988-1998 :- Member, Advisory Committee for Remote Sensing Applications Centre (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal.

1988-1991 :- Member-Secretary, Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR)

1985-1988 :- Member, Governing Council, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore

Special Responsibilities/Assignments (ISRO / DOS)

2017- 2019:-  Chairman Advisory Committee on Space Science (ADCOS)

2010:-Member Committee to Review the Chandayaan-2Payload Proposals.

2005 -2017 :- Vice-chairman, Advisory Committee on Space Science (ADCOS)

2004-2008 :- Chairman, Science Advisory Board, Chandrayaan-1

2004-2015 :- Chairman, ASTROSAT Payload Monitoring Committee

2009-2018 :- Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, Space Physics           Laboratory (SPL), VSSC, Trivandrum.

2003-2018 :- Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, National     Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Tirupati

2000-2002 :- Chairman, Lunar Mission Study Task Force

1998-2001 :- Chairman, Technical Review Committee for Remote Sensing Applications

1997-1998 :- Chairman, Management Council, Remote Sensing Application Missions (RSAM)

1995-1998 :- Member, INSAT Project Management Council

1992-1998 :- Member, Management Council for Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)

1992-1998 :- Member, Mission Management Council for Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development

1989-1998 :- Member, Project Management Council, Indian Remote Sensing Satellite

1988-1997 :- Alternate Chairman, Management Council, Remote Sensing Application Missions (RSAM)

1988-1998 :- Chairman, Steering Committee for Remote Sensing Applications of Agriculture Mission

1987-1990 :- Director, Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Utilisation Programme

1987-1988 :- Member, Executive Committee, Microwave Remote Sensing Programme (EC-MRSP)

1987-1988 :- Member, Remote Sensing Application Mission Council (RSAMC)

1984-1992 :- Associate Project Director, (Very High Resolution Radiometer, Payload), INSAT-II Test Spacecraft Project

1980-1988 :- Associate Project Director (Payloads), Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Project (IRS)

1975-1985 :- Principal scientistSEO/ Bhaskara TV payload

Fellowship/ Membership of professional bodies

Recognition
  • Padma Bhushan (1999)[13]
  • TIFR Alumni Association (TAA) Excellence Awards (2009)
  • Outstanding Life Time Contribution in Ocean Science and Technology, MOES (2009)
  • Life Time Achievement Award, Geospatial Technologies (2008)
  • Outstanding Achievement Award, ISRO (2008)
  • Aryabhata Award, Astronautical Society of India (2007)
  • Melpadom Attumalil Georgekutty Merit Award, Mar Thoma church (2006)
  • Bhaskara Award : Lifetime Contribution Awarded Instituted by Indian Society of Remote Sensing for outstanding achievement (1997)
  • Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Science and Technology in the discipline of Space and Aerospace (1987)[14]
  • SICO – National Academy of Sciences Award for Instrumentation (1986)[15]

Publications
  • Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, University Press (India) Pvt. Ltd., 1st edn., 2003, 2nd edition 2005
  • Building Earth Observation Cameras, CRC Press, 2015
  • India's Journey Towards Excellence in Building – Earth Observation Cameras, re-published by Notion Press 2016
  • Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, (with C. Jeganathan) University Press (India) Pvt. Ltd., 3rd edn., 2018

References
  1. "Dr George Joseph Awarded India's Civilian Award and Premier Remote Sensing Award" (PDF). ISPRS. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  2. SAC Directors
  3. "Space Applications Centre profile". www.sac.gov.in. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  4. What lies behind India’s planned trip to the moon?
  5. "Moon within our reach: Isro – Times of India". The Times of India. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ISPRS Technical Commission -I
  7. "Dr George Joseph Appointed Director of UN-affiliated Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific – ISRO". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. Dr George Joseph Appointed Director of UN-affiliated Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific
  9. Center for Space Science & Technology Education in Asia & The Pacific (CSSTEAP)
  10. "Fellowship – Indian Academy of Sciences". www.ias.ac.in. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. "The National Academy of Sciences, India – Fellows". www.nasi.org.in. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  12. "Members List – IMS". imetsociety.org. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  13. "Padma Awards". Padma Awards. Government of India. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  14. "Engineering of OM PRAKASH BHASIN AWARDS". www.opbfawards.com. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  15. "The National Academy of Sciences, India – Awardees". www.nasi.org.in. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
Government offices
Preceded by
 *Director SAC (ISRO)
*1994–1998		 Succeeded by
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