Sangode, SJ; Gupta, KR. 2010. An overview of two decades of Quaternary research in India: Some reflections based on bibliographic analysis. EPISODES 33 (2): 109-115

[Eugene Garfield]

Sangode, SJ; Gupta, KR. 2010. An overview of two decades of Quaternary 
research in India: Some reflections based on bibliographic analysis. EPISODES 
33 (2): 109-115.

Author Full Name(s): Sangode, S. J.; Gupta, K. R.
Language: English
Document Type: Article

Abstract: In the current scenario of perceptible climatic changes and the 
debates over predictability of trends based on available records; it is 
appropriate to review the developments in the Quaternary research during past 
two decades. In India where the Quaternary period is richly expressed by a 
variety of archives in wide geographic extent; such an overview may be useful 
to future developments. Year-wise bibliographic analysis (since 1990) based on 
selective qualitative and quantitative measures such as total number of 
national and international publications, contributions from Universities and 
research Institutions, and from the Department of Science and Technology 
(DST)-New Delhi funded projects are especially highlighted. Further a 
classification of the research work into various field areas (e.g., Himalaya, 
Ganga basin and Bay of Bengal, Thar desert, Coastal and Marine records) is 
made to produce a quantitative synthesis.
The analysis derives an average of 36 publications a year, and the trend in 
many research field areas is significantly correlated to the DST funding. We 
discover two major declines in the research output: (a) during 1999-2001 and 
(b) since 2007. The second decline is of great concern as it contradicts to the 
phenomenal growth of the subject and availability of funds during recent years. 
The peaks and steady output during the intermediate periods is related to the 
seeding of national programs, multi-Institutional projects and training programs 
funded by DST Considering the sympathetic relation of the research output in 
Quaternary geosciences to DST's support; it can be presumed that DST can 
play an effective role in the growth of Quaternary research in India. Further we 
identify and discuss three research field areas (Himalaya, Ganga basin and the 
Bay of Bengal) as priority areas needing attention of Quaternary geoscientists 
in this country Finally the bibliographic compilation made by this article can 
facilitate several analyses such as trends of output of the individual Institutes, 
workers and subject areas to device improvements.

Addresses: [Sangode, S. J.] Univ Pune, Dept Geol, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, 
India
Reprint Address: Sangode, SJ, Univ Pune, Dept Geol, Pune 411007, 
Maharashtra, India.
E-mail Address: sangode at unipune.ernet.in; khemgapta at yahoo.com
ISSN: 0705-3797
PDF OF ENTIRE ISSUE: http://www.episodes.co.in/Contents/full_v33n2.pdf