Mahesh K GaurDr. Mahesh K. Gaur is working at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodh- pur, India as a Senior Scientist, since Septem- ber 2012. He specializes in arid lands geography and the application of satellite remote sensing, GIS and digital imge processing for natural resources mapping, management and assessment. He also researches drought, desertification, land degradation, indigenous knowledge systems, and the socio-economic milieu of the Thar Desert of India. Prior to this, he has worked as an Associate Professor for more than 13 years with the Department of Higher Education, Government of Rajasthan State, India and has also worked at IIM Ahmedabad, IHS Hyderabad and IN-RIMT in various capacities. He has conducted many research studies sponsored by ISRO, SAC, UGC, and ICARDA. He has published 35 research papers in national and international research journals, 50 conference papers, 35 book chapters, five popular articles, and seven books. He is a member of numerous national and international scientific organizations, such as the Association of American Geographers and the Society for Conservation Biology, and several editorial boards of journals. He has been to South Africa, Namibia and Costa Rica on academic assignments. He is awarded the Citizen Karamveer Award 2011 by iCONGO for working in the field of Higher Education, Environment and Technology Applications for Community Upliftment; the Millennium Award for working in the field of Environment, and prestigious recognitions by the UGC of India and Scientific Assembly of the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). Read More Read Less