Prof. Devesh K Sinha

Department of Geology

University of Delhi

Delhi-110007

Email: dsinha@geology.du.ac.in, deveshksinha@yahoo.com

Phone: + 9818546353

Prof. Devesh K Sinha is at present Director, Delhi School of Climate Change and Sustainability, Institution of Eminence, and Professor of Oceanography and Marine Geology in the Department of Geology, Centre of Advanced Study at the University of Delhi. He was also the Head of the Department of Geology and Dean of the Faculty of Science. He held one of the top administrative positions at the University of Delhi, serving as Dean of Colleges as part of the University of Delhi Vice-Chancellor's team. The other important administrative positions held by Prof. Sinha were Chairman of the Non-Non-Collegiate Women's Educational Board (NCWEB), Chairman of the Board of Research Studies in Science, and Chairman of the Governing Body of Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, and Jubilee Hall. 

Prof. Sinha has been a member of several important academic committees, including those of the CSIR, ISRO, UGC, DST (SERB), DST (ANRF), and the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC).  He was also Vice-President of the Paleontological Society of India. He was a UGC Expert and Advisory Member of the Centres of Advanced Studies in Geology of Kumaun University, Nainital, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, and Banaras Hindu University. Prof. Sinha has been a member of the Governing Bodies of prestigious institutions in the University of Delhi, including Miranda College, V.P. Patel Chest Institute, BR Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, and ​CPDHE (HRDC-UGC). He was also a member of the Executive Council and Academic Council of the University of Delhi. Prof. Sinha was also honoured with a membership of Majlis-i-Talimi (مجلس اے تعلیمی)  (Academic  Council)  of Jamia Millia University, Delhi. He is currently a Member of the Board of Studies in Earth Science at Jammu Cluster University, Pondicherry University, Kumaun University, University of Kashmir, Ladakh University and Indira Gandhi University. Prof. Sinha was also a Member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun. Currently, Prof. Sinha serves as a Member (appointed by the Lt. Governor) in the Syndicate of the University of Kashmir and as the Chancellor's nominee for various Selections at the Islamic Institute of Science and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir.   

Prof. Devesh K. Sinha obtained his Graduate and Postgraduate degrees in Geology from Banaras Hindu University, with a specialisation in Micropaleontology and Paleoceanography. He obtained his Doctoral degree from the same University on “Late Neogene Paleoceanography of the Southwest Pacific Ocean” based on Deep-Sea Cores recovered from the International Ocean Drilling Programme – on Lord Howe Rise between Australia and New Zealand”. Prof. Sinha later did his Post-Doctoral Studies from GEOMAR Research Centre for Marine Geosciences, University of Kiel, Germany on North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation and “Heinrich Layers” based on RV-Sone-Cores from Portuguese margin. He also studied the recession of Alpine Glaciers, Switzerland due to climate change. After serving his alma mater for nearly two decades, he joined the University of Delhi, where he continues to be a Professor, teaching oceanography, micropaleontology, Paleoclimate, and Stratigraphy.

His research interests include

a)            Refinement of Cenozoic Geological Time Scale;

b)            Paleoceanography and climate change during the last 6 million years;

c)            Understanding teleconnections in the Earth –Ocean-Climate system on the

               geological time scale

d)            Effect of plate tectonics- closing and opening of ocean gateways and their effect on the ocean

               circulation and climate change.

He has made significant contributions to all the above aspects by publishing at both national and international levels. Due to his contributions to paleoceanography, he has been invited by several organisations to share his expertise, including the National Science Foundation, USA, where he was instrumental in framing the initial phase of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP) in Bengal Fan at - University of Colorado, USA. His research work has garnered significant citations in the international literature, including more than 10 refinements to the Cenozoic Time Scale, which have been incorporated into the Geological Time Scale 2020, published by Elsevier recently. Professor Sinha, along with his illustrious group of students, has made significant contributions to the geological history and changes in ocean circulation in the high northern latitudes around the Arctic and in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.

He is the recipient of the prestigious Palaeontologist Gold Medal from the Palaeontological Society of India. Prof. Sinha has chaired several technical sessions in National and International Conferences and has delivered invited talks and keynote addresses at many prestigious national and international institutions including Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur; National Institute of Oceanography, Goa; National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa; Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar; GJ University Hisar, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulations, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar; Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, S.N. Bose Institute of Physics, Kolkata, Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital, Department of Geology, Madras University, Chennai, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, Pondichery University, Navrachna University, Vadodra, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehra Dun, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, University of Kashmir, Inter University accelerator Centre, New Delhi, University of Colorado, USA, University of Kiel, Germany, Yonsei University, South Korea, to name a few. He delivered a Presidential Address at the International Conference on Microplastics: Emerging Contaminants in Soil, Sediments, and Nutrition (ICMCWSN-2025), organised by the Nivetha Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He has been a frequent speaker at the INSPIRE programs of DST. He was several times honoured as a Guest speaker at Earth Day celebrations. Prof. Sinha has the privilege of being on the Expert Panel for a USA Academy-INSA Public Expert Interaction on Climate Change, held at INSA, New Delhi, in collaboration with IIT Bombay, IIT Chennai, PRL Ahmedabad, and the West Bengal Academy of Sciences, Kolkata. Prof. Sinha frequently gives 'Invited Talks" on Climate Change and Sustainability to Foreign Delegates/ Diplomates and Trainees of the Indian Foreign Service at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration ( LBSNAA), Mussoorie.

Prof. Sinha has also been a Participating Shipboard Scientist in International Oceanographic Expeditions conducted under JOINT GLOBAL OCEAN FLUX STUDIES (JGOFS) in the Indian Ocean. Having wide experience in sailing in the Tropical Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans to working near the freezing Baltic Sea, he has also edited a book, “Micropaleontology: Application in Stratigraphy and Paleoceanography”, published by Alpha Science International, Oxford, and Narosa Publishers, New Delhi. At present, he has several International Research Projects on Global Cenozoic Ocean Circulation, including

a)         Variation of Indonesian Throughflow during Late Neogene- (With Kochi -Japan)

b)         Paleoceanography of the Trans Tropical Pacific-(With Texas A & M University; USA)

c)         Late Neogene variation in ITCZ-(Kochi –Japan);

d)         Late Neogene History of Benguela Current (Bremen University, Germany)

e)         Variation in Indian Monsoon since Last Glacial Maximum-ISRO- International

            Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, India.

Prof. Sinha is on the Expert Panel of reviewers in CSIR, ISRO, DST, MOES, IUAC, NCPOR, and UGC. He is a reviewer of papers published by Elsevier and other national and International Journals.

Besides academics, he loves music and is a proficient player of the flute and the mouth organ. His family includes his wife, Son, and all his research students who are now occupying important positions in Universities and Research Institutes.

Some Latest Publications 

2020 Late Neogene –Quaternary planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and biochronology from ODP Site 807A , Ontong Java Plateau, Western Equatorial Pacific. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, v. 50, no. 2, p. 111–127, https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.50.2.111

2021 Northward Migration of Antarctic Polar Front during the Quaternary: Planktic Foraminiferal Record from Southeast Indian Ocean Journal of Climate Change, The Netherlands, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2021), pp. 13-24. DOI 10.3233/JCC210002

2021 Diachronism in Late Neogene-Quaternary planktic foraminiferal events in Northern and Eastern Indian Ocean: Paleoceanographic implications”, Journal of Paleontological Society of India  Volume 66(2), 31, 2021: 357-374

2021 Ocean circulation in high northern latitudes and its influence on Arctic climate through the ages . In: Understanding Present and Past Arctic Environments: Elsevier. P- 79-116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822869-2.00017-7

2022  Cenozoic Evolution of Antarctic Ice Sheet, Circum Antarctic Circulation and Antarctic Climate: Evidence from Marine Sedimentary Records: In Assessing the Antarctic Environment from a Climate Change Perspective: An Integrated Approach – Springer-Nature: ISBN:978-3-030-87077-5,p-47-71  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87078-2_4

2022 Plio-Pleistocene planktic foraminiferal biochronology of ODP site 762B, Exmouth Plateau, Southeast Indian Ocean Journal of Foraminiferal Research, USA, v. 52, no. 4, p. 248-263, October 2022.https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.52.4.248

2023 Antarctic climate history and its Relationship with Global climate changes: Evidence from Ice Core Records. In: Khare, N. (Ed.), Climate Change and Geodynamics in Polar Regions. CRC Press, pp. 45–88. https://doi:10.1201/9781003284413-3

2025 Late Neogene-Quaternary multi-proxy records of prolonged El Niño (El Padre) variability: Implications on tropical eastern Indian Ocean paleoclimate and palaeoceanography, Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India, SAGE, Vol 70 (1) p.235-248   https://doi.org/10.1177/05529360251345227.  

2025 Indian monsoon modes and their linkage with precipitation in the Andaman Sea region: Late Quaternary planktic foraminiferal records. Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India Vol 70 (1) p.249-265-https://doi.org/10.1177/05529360251345236