George Joseph

George Joseph (born 4 August 1938) is an Indian space scientist, best known for his contributions to the development of remote sensing technology in India, especially Earth observation sensors. He is a former chairman of the Lunar Mission Study Task Force of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Indian Academy of Sciences and Indian National Academy of Engineering. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 1999.

Early life

George Joseph was born on 4 August 1938 to Advocate MG Joseph and Alice. After completing schooling, he joined St. Berchmans College, Changanassery and also studied at Alagappa Chettiar College in Karaikudi and University College, Trivandrum. He served as lecturer at Union Christian College, Aluva and at CMS College Kottayam. Afterwards he was a trainee at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Bombay.

Joseph is married to Mercy and they have two sons.

Research career

Joseph started his research career in 1962 at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay, where he was involved in the study of cosmic rays. Based on his research work at the Tata Institute he was awarded a PhD degree by the Bombay University. A novel detector system he designed was flown on the first Indian satellite Aryabhata (satellite) to detect solar neutrons.

Contributions to the Indian space programme

In 1973, Joseph was invited to join the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad-one of the centers of ISRO, and initiated the development of remote sensing technology particularly sensors of various types. He has been the guiding force in the design and development of all the earth observation cameras on board Indian Remote Sensing Satellite and INSAT. He served the ISRO in various capacities including director of its Space Applications Centre and took keen interest and initiative to ensure the fruits of space technology reach common man. One of his contributions is the study report on Indian Mission to the Moon in the capacity as chairman of the Lunar Mission Study Task Force.

Joseph has served in a number of national and international committees/organizations including president of Technical Commission – I of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing during 1996–2000 and director of the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (affiliated to the United Nations), with headquarters at Dehradun during 2006–2009.

Positions held 2010-2018: Honorary Distinguished Professor, Indian Space Research Organization 2006-2009: Director, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific 2003-2006: Honorary Distinguished Professor, Indian Space Research Organization 1998-2003: Satish Dhawan Distinguished Professor 1994-1998: Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 1990-1994: Associate Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 1985-1994: Dy. Director (Remote Sensing), Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 1975-1985: Head, Sensor Development Division, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 1973-1975: Scientist/Engineer, Remote Sensing & Meteorology Applications Division, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 1970-1973: Fellow, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay 1962-1970: Research Associate, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay 1961-1962: Trainee (Physics), Atomic Energy Establishment School 1959-1961: Lecturer in Physics, Union Christian College, Alwaye (Affiliated with the University of Kerala)

Special Responsibilities/Assignments (International /National) 2010-2020: Editor-in-Chief Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2012: Member Scientific Advisory Committee, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore 2010: Chairman Review panel of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Balloon Facility 2010: Member, State Council of Climate Change, Govt of Himachal Pradesh 2004–2006: Member, Governing Council, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad 2003–2004: Member of the International Academy of Astronautics Study Team on Space to promote peace –initial focus on reconstruction of Afghanistan 2002–2004: President, Indian Society of Remote Sensing 1999–2001: President, Gujarat Science Academy 1999: Consulting Faculty, Taleem Research Foundation, Ahmedabad 1997–1998: Member, Steering Committee, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune 1997–2000: Member, Research Council, National Institute of Oceanography 1996–2000: President, Technical Commission-I, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 1996–1999: President, Indian Society of Geomatics 1994–1997: Member, Research Council, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta 1994–1996: President, Indian Society of Remote Sensing 1993–1996: Vice-President, Indian Society of Geomatics 1993–1996: Member, Management Council, Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction 1992–1998: Member, Andhra Pradesh State Remote Sensing Applications Centre Society 1989–1998: Member, Governing Body of Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum 1988–1998: Member, Advisory Committee for Remote Sensing Applications Centre, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal 1988–1991: Member-Secretary, Indian National Committee for Space Research 1985–1988: Member, Governing Council, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore

Special Responsibilities/Assignments (Indian Space Research Organization) 2017–2019: Chairman Advisory Committee on Space Science 2010: Member Committee to Review the Chandayaan-2Payload Proposals 2005–2017: Vice-chairman, Advisory Committee on Space Science 2004–2008: Chairman, Science Advisory Board, Chandrayaan-1 2004–2015: Chairman, ASTROSAT Payload Monitoring Committee 2009–2018: Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, Space Physics Laboratory, Trivandrum 2003–2018: Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Tirupati 2000–2002: Chairman, Lunar Mission Study Task Force 1998–2001: Chairman, Technical Review Committee for Remote Sensing Applications 1997–1998: Chairman, Management Council, Remote Sensing Application Missions 1995–1998: Member, INSAT Project Management Council 1992–1998: Member, Management Council for Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems 1992–1998: Member, Mission Management Council for Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development 1989–1998: Member, Project Management Council, Indian Remote Sensing Satellite 1988–1997: Alternate Chairman, Management Council, Remote Sensing Application Missions 1988–1998: Chairman, Steering Committee for Remote Sensing Applications of Agriculture Mission 1987–1990: Director, Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Utilisation Programme 1987–1988: Member, Executive Committee, Microwave Remote Sensing Programme 1987–1988: Member, Remote Sensing Application Mission Council 1984–1992: Associate Project Director, (Very High Resolution Radiometer, Payload), INSAT-II Test Spacecraft Project 1980–1988: Associate Project Director (Payloads), Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Project 1975–1985: Principal scientistSEO/ Bhaskara TV payload

Professional bodies Fellow Indian Academy of Sciences Fellow National Academy of Sciences, India Fellow Indian National Academy of Engineering Fellow Indian Geophysical Union Fellow Gujarat Science Academy Fellow Indian Meteorological Society Fellow Indian Society of Remote Sensing Fellow Astronautical Society of India

Recognition Padma Bhushan (1999) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Alumni Association Excellence Awards (2009) Outstanding Life Time Contribution in Ocean Science and Technology (2009) Life Time Achievement Award, Geospatial Technologies (2008) Outstanding Achievement Award, Indian Space Research Organization (2008) Aryabhata Award, Astronautical Society of India (2007) Melpadom Attumalil Georgekutty Merit Award, Mar Thoma church (2006) Bhaskara Award : Lifetime Contribution Awarded Instituted by Indian Society of Remote Sensing for outstanding achievement (1997) Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Science and Technology in the discipline of Space and Aerospace (1987) SICO – National Academy of Sciences Award for Instrumentation (1986)

Publications Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, University Press (India), 1st edition, 2003, 2nd edition 2005 Building Earth Observation Cameras, CRC Press, 2015 India's Journey Towards Excellence in Building – Earth Observation Cameras, re-published by Notion Press 2016 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, (with C. Jeganathan) University Press (India), 3rd edition, 2018