Pallava Bagla

Pallava Bagla (46) has been a globally acclaimed award winning Indian science communicator and photojournalist for 25 years, and during this time he has come to be respected for his breaking news stories and for having showcased Indian science and technology to the world in more than a decade of writing for Science, the prestigious weekly magazine of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington D. C. His work has often led to the government changing its policy.

A few years ago he joined as Science Editor for India’s highly respected private television channel NDTV – New Delhi Television. His work showcasing India’s maiden mission to the moon Chandrayaan-1 has been applauded, broadcasting both in English and Hindi.

His solo photo exhibition on water issues titled `Drops of Life’ has been globally displayed in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal and Washington DC.

He is author of several books, the most recent being `Destination Moon: India’s quest for Moon, Mars and Beyond.’ published by HarperCollins India Private Ltd in 2008. Another, of his books `Trees of India’ a large format pictorial book was published by Timeless Books in 2000.

Bagla is also a still photographer working for Corbis, one of the world’s largest photo agency owned by Microsoft chief, Mr. Bill Gates. His pictures have found place in respected magazines like National Geographic, Time, Nature, New Scientist, Scientific American, Newsweek, Elle and The Economist.

He has published over 850 news and features stories in leading national and international publications; published five books; edited five books and over 3000 photographs taken by him have been published over the years. He was also a frequent contributor to the leading national daily, The Indian Express. He has contributed over 170 news features on national television with many from strategic sectors like space, atomic energy and defence technology.

In 2006, he was conferred with the `National Award for Outstanding Effort in Science & Technology Communication in Print Medium', it is the highest honor of its kind for science journalism in India and is given by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

In 2003, he became the first Indian to win the `Outstanding Journalism’ award from the United Nations sponsored Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) the world’s apex body looking after agricultural research and headquartered at The World Bank, Washington DC.

Previously, he was awarded the prestigious science writing fellowship at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA in 1994.

In 2004, he became a Fellow of the Leadership in Environment and Development (LEAD), London, UK.