Srinagar | : The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has awarded the National Geospatial Emerging Faculty Fellow (Interdisciplinary – Jury) Award 2025 to Dr. Mohd Moiz Khan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar.
The award was presented during the ‘Open-Source GIS Day’ celebrations at IIT Bombay, recognizing Dr. Khan’s significant contributions to open-source geospatial research, particularly in waste management, green energy, and urban sustainability, with a focus on Dal Lake conservation in collaboration with SKUAST-K. The award ceremony featured A.S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of ISRO, as the Chief Guest. The FOSSEE GIS project, which instituted the award, aims to promote awareness of open-source geospatial software and support the use of Indian satellite data and indigenous technologies like NavIC. NIT Srinagar’s Director, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, expressed pride in Dr. Khan’s achievement, highlighting the impact of the institute’s research on environmental and social challenges. Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman emphasized the award’s reflection of NIT Srinagar’s commitment to open-source scientific work aligned with national missions. Dr. F. Q. Mir, Head of the Chemical Engineering Department, commended Dr. Khan for utilizing open-source geospatial tools to address critical environmental and urban issues, noting that his work serves as an inspiration for young researchers. Dr. Moiz Khan’s projects align with the National Geospatial Policy 2022 and Indian Space Policy 2023, focusing on the application of NaVIC and Indian satellite data to tackle India-specific challenges. In his acceptance message, Dr. Khan expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in geospatial science for environmental preservation and sustainable urban development in Kashmir. The National Geospatial Awards, a key initiative of the FOSSEE GIS project, aim to acknowledge contributors to geospatial technology across various fields while promoting the use of open-source GIS tools. This year, nominations were received nationwide, and awardees were selected by a national jury of experts from ISRO, NRSC, the Survey of India, and leading academic institutions.
