M. F. Quamar,^1,*,**,*** S. Nawaz Ali,^1,**** C. M. Nautiyal,^1,***** S. K. Bera<sup>1,******

1</sup>Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

^*CONTACT M. F. Quamar quamar_bot@yahoo.co.in
^**Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, Uttar Pradesh, India
^***Md. Firoze Quamar was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Botany from the R.D.S. College (Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University-BRABU), Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India in 2000, an MSc in Botany from the University Department of Botany, BRABU, Muzaffarpur, Bihar in 2004 with 1 Position. He received his PhD (Botany) in 2011 from the University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He worked as a Birbal Sahni Research Scholar (BSRS) and Birbal Sahni Research Associate (BSRA) at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow while carrying out research for his PhD and thereafter (till 29 October 2013). He worked as a Scientist “B” in the Institute from 29 October 2013-30 December 2016. He is, as of now, working as a Scientist “C” at the BSIP and his research interests mainly include the reconstruction of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the tropical areas during the Late Quaternary using pollen as a proxy. He also runs a Deptt. of Science & Technology (DST) Fast Track Young Scientist Project (Reference No. SR/FTP/ES-81/2013, dated 20 January 2014) in Western Himalaya (Jammu and Kashmir), India. He has received Dr. B.S. Venkatachala Memorial Medal for his outstanding piece of research work in palaeobotany among the young scientists of BSIP in 2014. He is also the recipient of Paper of the Month (POTM) Award from BSIP in 2014; prizes for Best Poster Presentation at NIT, Rourkela, Odisha in 2013 and at BSIP, Lucknow in 2016. He has recently been awarded to Dr. Chunnilal Khatiyal Medal on 14th November, 2016 in the category of Scientist “B” at the BSIP, Lucknow, India. He has published 35 research papers and 5 meeting reports in peer-reviewed journals.
^****Sheikh Nawaz Ali was awarded BSc in Geology, Botany, and Zoology from G. G. M.Sc. College, University of Jammu in 2004, an MSc (Geology) from the Deptt. of Geology, University of Jammu, India in 2006. He received his PhD (Geology) in 2011 from the University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He did his Post-Doctoral Research from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India during October 2011 to October 2013. He joined Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in October 2013 as Scientist “B” and carry out research on Quaternary geology and geomorphology with the emphasis on the role of glaciations in Quaternary climate variability in Indian sub-continent. He is now working as a Scientist “C” at BSIP and also runs two projects funded by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. He has published 23 research papers (including a Meeting Report) in peer reviewed high impact factor journals.
^*****Chandra Mohan Nautiyal has recently been superannuated as Scientist-F and Scientist-in-Charge, Radiocarbon Laboratory of Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP). His academic career with several scholarships includes masters degree in Physics from University of Roorkee (now IIT-Roorkee) and doctoral and post-doctoral research at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He is recipient of recognition like INSA Medal for Young Scientists; Travel Grant award fromMeteoritical Society, USA; prizes for posters from Indian Society for Mass Spectrometry, Mumbai & the Palaeobotanical Society, and Paper of the Month Award from BSIP. The laboratory headed by him has twice received the BSIP Medals for highest consultancy. He has also received Prabhashree Award from the hands of Governor, Uttar Pradesh; Centenary and Vigyan Vachaspati honours from Vigyan Parishad, Prayag. He is recipient of several honours frommany science clubs for science communication. Apart from about 75 research contributions in leading research journals and proceedings etc., and presentation in national and international conferences, he has published research papers in journals and several articles in books and an encyclopedia on science communication. He has been member of several committees such as the National Committee on Archaeological Sciences by Archaeological Survey of India; Convener, Symposium on Climate Change and Hydrogeology at BSIP; Coordinator, Rock Art Documentation Committee, UP and the organising committees of many conferences as well as outreach programmes etc. He is also a well known science communicator having delivered about 600 lectures and has been involved in about 200 radio and TV programmes. He is also the Chairman, Young Scientists' Scheme, Uttar Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (UPCST), U.P., India.
^******Samir K. Bera was awarded a BSc in Botany from the University of Calcutta in 1976, an MSc in Botany from the University of Burdwan in 1978 and a PhD from the University of Lucknow in 1989. He is currently a Scientist “F (Retd.)” at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow, working on palaeoclimatology and using Quaternary pollen as a proxy. Samir has 32 years research experience, and has published 87 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has visited Antarctica twice, and has supervised several research students.