Sanjeeva Nayaka

Born on 1 August 1974 in a small town Koppa, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, Dr. Nayaka is the 3rd son to his parents Late Shankara Naik and Smt. Sharada. He had his early education up to class 7 from Shree Tomarashetti Government Model Higher Primary School, Kelapete, Koppa. He was awarded with free education scholarship for high school studies at Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysore. Later he completed his Pre-University College and graduation from Sri Jagadguru Chandrashekara Bharathi Memorial College (Sri JCBM), Sringeri, which is affiliated to Kuvempu University, Shankaragatta. Dr. Nayaka cleared his post-graduation with distinction from Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri in Applied Botany.

During his college days he participated in several art competition and won prizes. He had worked as guest artist for Resonance – Journal of Science Education published by Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. He had also contributed illustrations for selected articles in journal Current Science and few books such as ‘Marine Mammals of India’ by Kumaran Sathasivam,‘Survival Strategies’ by Raghavendra Gadgakar, and ‘Butterflies of Peninsular India’ by Krushnamegh Kunte. He was also a volunteer of National Service Scheme.

Dr. Nayaka was introduced to research during his graduation period. He was a volunteer in a project ‘Western Ghats Biodiversity Inventory Programme’ under the supervision of Dr. G.K. Bhatat, Sri JCBM College, Sringeri. This programme was coordinated by Prof. Madhav Gadgil,Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was awarded with Summer Research Fellowship of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore to study the lichens of Bangalore city under Prof. Madhav Gadgil. Here he was introduced to field of Lichenology by his senior Late Dr. Hans Raj Negi to collect, identify and preserve lichens. After his post-graduation Dr. Nayaka moved to Lucknow to pursue his career in Lichenology under the guidance of Dr. D.K. Upreti at CSIR-NBRI. Initially he worked as Project Assistant in "All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy" sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi. During this period he explored lichens of Himachal Pradesh. Later in the year 2001 he was appointed as Scientist at CSIR-NBRI.

Dr. S. Nayaka delivering lecture on lichens at Biodiversity Awareness Programme at Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dr. Nayaka revised the genus Lecanora s. l. for his doctoral thesis at CSIR-NBRI under the supervision of Dr. D.K. Upreti and obtained PhD degree from Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad. His research interest includes taxonomy, biomonitoring and bioprospecting of lichens. Apart from Lecanora he has revised taxa such as Lecidea[5] and Phyllopsora[6] from India. So far he has described 20 species new to science and reported 45 new lichenized and lichenicolous fungi for India.[7] Dr. Nayaka had travelled throughout India and published lichen floristic accounts for several regions. His major work involves studies on lichens of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,[8] Gujarat and Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Some of the protected area surveyed by him includes Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary, Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Marine National Park, National Chambal Sanctuary and Soor Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary. He has visited Antarctica twice for studying the lichens and their ecophysiology[9]

Dr. Nayaka has handled five research project as Principal Investigator and he is Co-Investigator in more than 15 project.

So far Dr. Nayaka has guided two PhD students and another 5 are pursuing their PhD under his guidance. He is a recognized PhD guide in 6 Universities of India.

He is an active reviewer of more than 15 research journals.

He has delivered more than 20 invited lectures on various occasions and also interviewed by various Newspaper.[10]

He has organized two days National Conference on “Cryptogam Research in India: Progress and Prospects” at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow during 28-29th Sept. 2015.[11] Also, he had organized about 10 Biodiversity Awareness Workshops at various school and colleges of Uttar Pradesh.

Dr. Nayaka has published more than 150 research articles in peer reviewed journals and books.[7] He has participated in several national and international conferences and published about 130 abstracts. Most of his research papers are available at ResearchGate. He has authored or edited following 3 books.

• A field Guide to the common Lichens of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Upreti, D.K. and Nayaka, S. Bishen Singh Mabedra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. 2004.[12]
• Lichens of Uttar Pradesh. Nayaka, S. and Upreti, D.K. Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, Lucknow. 2013.[8]
• Plant Diversity of Uttar Pradesh (Including Algae and Fungi). Mishra, G.K., Nayaka, S. and Saini, D.C. (Eds.). ASR Publication, Ghaziabad. 2015.

Dr. Nayaka had assisted more than 25 researcher all over India for conducting lichen research. He has also established collaboration with several academic institutions and provided technical assistance. Some such institution are as follows,

• Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa
• TERI University, New Delhi
• Goa University, Taleigao Plateau
• K.S.R. Educational Institutions, Tiruchengode
• Nowgong College, Nago
• Davangere University, Davangere
• Kuvempu University, Shankargatta

He is a bird-watcher; listed about 65 birds species for CSIR-NBRI and submitted about 50 checklists to eBird.