Varanasi: For over two decades, the Ganga has been more than a sacred river for professor Jitendra Pandey of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) it has been his laboratory. Now, his years of research on the river’s ecology and resilience to pollution have earned him international recognition. The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has invited Pandey to deliver the prestigious Sir Stephen Schneider Lecture this December, making him the first Asian and the first biological scientist to receive the honour.
The annual lecture commemorates the legacy of American climatologist Stephen Schneider and is delivered each year by one distinguished scientist. Previous recipients include globally renowned climate researchers such as Peter Gleick, Michael Mann and Alan Robock.
A lifetime with the Ganga
Pandey heads the Ganga River Ecology Research Laboratory in BHU’s Department of Botany. His work spans the river’s entire 2,500 km stretch from the glacier-fed origins at Gomukh to the deltaic mouth at Ganga Sagar. He has studied how the river responds to pollution, sedimentation, climate stress, and changes in its biogeochemical cycles.
His journey began with a personal experience in Varanasi nearly three decades ago, when he noticed the turbidity of the river during a bath. That moment, he says, pushed him to understand the river beyond faith as an ecological system under stress.
Pandey joined BHU as a student in 1986 and later returned as a faculty member. He has since guided more than a dozen PhD scholars working on river pollution, atmospheric deposition, nutrient dynamics and biodiversity along different stretches of the Ganga.
Recognition for sustained research
According to the AGU’s statement, Pandey’s work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of how major rivers respond to heavy metal pollution, eutrophication and shifts in benthic communities. Colleagues at BHU call his research rigorous and consistent, and many note that the honour also marks global acknowledgment of India’s contribution to river science.
His colleague Ravi Asthana said, “Pandey and his team have consistently tracked Ganga’s health from Haridwar to Ganga Sagar. Their findings on carbon load, heavy metals, and sedimentation are crucial for understanding the river’s future.”
Ganga clean-up efforts and stark realities
India has tried to clean the Ganga for four decades, beginning with the Ganga Action Plan in the 1980s and, more recently, the Namami Gange initiative. Yet the river continues to face growing sewage discharge and industrial pollution.
Pandey points out that during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when industries were temporarily shut, the river’s water quality improved noticeably even though sewage flow continued. This, he argues, clearly reflects the magnitude of industrial waste as a pollutant.
He maintains that increasing the natural flow of water in the river is one of the strongest tools for restoring its health helping dilute pollutants and raise oxygen levels.
Studying resilience under climate change
Pandey’s upcoming lecture will focus on how climate change is altering river chemistry and resilience. His students are examining different stretches of the Ganga to understand these shifts. For instance, research in the Sundarbans highlights how rising salinity and heavy metal accumulation are affecting both ecosystems and human health.
“It is not just about the Ganga,” Pandey said. “Rivers form a global system connecting land, oceans, climate and life. Understanding their resilience is key to sustaining the planet’s ecological balance.”
A milestone for Indian river science
The invitation to deliver the Sir Stephen Schneider Lecture marks a significant moment not only for Pandey, but for Indian environmental research. His recognition signals growing international attention to river systems in the Global South, many of which face increasing stress from pollution and climate change.
For Pandey, the honour comes with responsibility. “This is not only recognition, but a duty,” he said. “Science must guide policy. And for rivers like the Ganga, time is running out.”