News & Updates – Dr Karthick Bala

Multiple new diatom species described from the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Meghamalai Hills, and coastal India published in Phytotaxa, Nova Hedwigia, Diatom Research, and Biodiversity & Conservation.
New genus discoveries (Indoplatessa, Gandhia, Indiconema) featured in international taxonomy platforms and DiatomBase.
Ongoing work on Gomphonema, Eunotia, Actinella, and pseudoaerial diatoms continues to expand the Indian diatom flora.

Paper accepted in The Holocene on 2600-year climate history from Bandhavgarh National Park.
Accepted book chapter on ecosystem services of freshwater and marine diatoms in the Diatoms: Biology & Applications series.
Manuscripts on environmental DNA metabarcoding and Himalayan glacial lakes accepted in Resonance.
High-impact papers published on microplastics, heavy metals, groundwater contamination, and riverine ecology (Applied Soil Ecology, Land Degradation & Development, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology).

Neha Wadmare and Cheran Radhakrishnan awarded PhD degrees (November 2024).
Vigneshwaran submitted PhD thesis (October 2025).
Ongoing PhD research by Pratyasha, Samadhan, and Yogeshwaran progressing with new datasets on diatom distribution, morpho-molecular analyses, and gomphonemoid evolution.

CSR project with HCL Foundation ongoing on biomonitoring of restored water structures in Uttar Pradesh.
Archaeological reconstruction projects with Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department completed for sites in the Kaveri basin.
Continued long-term monitoring of Pune rivers (Mula–Mutha, Indrayani, Ghod) with expanded ecological and diatom datasets.

Conducted multiple outreach and teacher-training programmes through NASI, Pune Knowledge Cluster, and ARI.
Delivered workshops on biomonitoring, freshwater biodiversity, and diatom taxonomy for students, faculties, and researchers across India.
Curriculum contributions to NCERT Science Textbooks for Classes 6–9 continue.

Continued service as Editor (Scientific Reports) and Associate Editor (Diatom Research, Discover Environment, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution).
Member, NASI (since August 2024).
Ongoing advisory roles for BSIP Research Advisory Council and DST Programme Advisory Committees.
Featured in national media for new species discoveries and environmental research.

Active involvement in Deep Ocean Mission programmes with IIT Dharwad and NCBS.
Contributions to interdisciplinary studies integrating diatoms with archaeology, monsoon history, microplastics, and geochemistry.
Continued joint publications and training events with IISER Mohali, ATREE, Ashoka University, NCBS, and international collaborators in Russia, Japan, Europe, and USA.

Conducted outreach in rural and tribal schools (NASI) with microscopy sessions and live diatom demonstrations.
Featured science communication material in children’s magazines and online platforms.
Active engagement with students and teachers through bilingual educational content and hands-on ecology sessions.