Citation by Abhijit Mukherjee
Professor Prosun Bhattacharya is a distinguished global leader in groundwater geochemistry whose research and leadership have profoundly influenced science, policy, and public health across continents. With a geoscience career spanning over 35 years, including nearly two decades of service to the Geological Society of America, Prof. Bhattacharya has led transformative, interdisciplinary research addressing the occurrence, fate, and mitigation of geogenic contaminants—especially arsenic and fluoride—in groundwater systems used for drinking.
He earned his PhD in Sedimentary Geochemistry from the University of Delhi, India (1990), and currently serves as Professor of Groundwater Chemistry at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where he coordinates the KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group. He has held additional academic affiliations, including Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia (2016–2019), and since 2020, Affiliate Scientist at the KWR Water Research Institute, The Netherlands.
Prof. Bhattacharya’s global scientific reach extends across South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the MENA region, where his field-driven, community-centered work has provided sustainable solutions for safe water access. He led the landmark Sida-funded Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation (SASMIT) project in Bangladesh (2007–2017), which introduced practical tools such as the Sediment Colour Tool and advanced treatment systems like AOCF to identify and access safe aquifers. In partnership with UNICEF and Bangladesh’s Department of Public Health Engineering, his projects have strengthened arsenic-safe water delivery through private sector training, digital water safety platforms, and institutional capacity development.
Beyond South Asia, he has initiated Sida-supported bilateral capacity-building research programs between Sweden and Tanzania, and Sweden and Bolivia, advancing local scientific capacity in resource-constrained settings. His current projects in Tanzania, Turkey, Jordan, and Argentina further extend his integrated approach to hydrogeochemistry, health, and sustainability and currently he is envisioning a global south-south collaborative action on ensuring water security and public health.
An internationally recognized scholar, Prof. Bhattacharya has authored or co-authored over 500 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers, cited more than 26,800 times (Google Scholar h-index: 85), and edited 17 books on groundwater quality and water sustainability. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Groundwater for Sustainable Development and has served as Associate Editor of Journal of Hydrology and Frontiers in Environmental Sciences. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the global groundwater research agenda—especially through the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable Development and two decades of leadership in organizing the International Arsenic Congress. Prof. Bhattacharya has also actively contributed to pandemic-related research on wastewater-based epidemiology, working with governments and public health networks.
Prof. Bhattacharya’s commitment to mentorship is equally notable—having supervised over 24 PhD and 50 Master’s students, most from Africa, South Asia, and South America, who now contribute significantly to geoscience education and groundwater management in their home countries.
An elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2012) and the International Water Association (2018), he is the recipient of the George Burke Maxey Distinguished Service Award (2021), the STE International Achiever Award (2019), and currently serves as Member-at-Large of the GSA International Committee (2021–2025).
Prof. Bhattacharya is widely respected not only for his scientific rigor and global vision but also for his humility, inclusivity, and unwavering commitment to social equity. His work exemplifies the integration of cutting-edge science and real-world impact—uplifting communities, building local capacities, and safeguarding drinking water for millions. For his outstanding international geoscience research, sustained service to the GSA, and his transformative leadership in groundwater chemistry, Prof. Bhattacharya is most deserving of the GSA International Distinguished Career Award.
Response by Prosun Bhattacharya
I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the prestigious GSA International Distinguished Career Award from the Council of the Geological Society of America. To be acknowledged by one of the world’s most esteemed scientific communities is both a profound privilege and a testament to the collective work with the diverse cohort of collaborators, students, and mentors who have shaped my journey in the field of geosciences.
My academic and professional trajectory has been driven by an enduring curiosity about the intricate interactions between groundwater systems and human society—especially under the twin pressures of environmental degradation and climate change. Although I was originally trained as a Precambrian geologist, working on sedimentary geochemistry and crustal evolution for my doctoral degree from the University of Delhi, India, my research gradually evolved to focus on hydrogeochemistry and the sustainability of groundwater resources. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to contribute to understanding groundwater quality issues, particularly those related to naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic and fluoride, which affect the health and livelihoods of millions across South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
My commitment to addressing groundwater sustainability is rooted in a desire to bridge science with policy and practice. I have always believed that geoscientific knowledge must not remain confined to academic journals or laboratories—it must serve communities, inform equitable resource governance, and be translated into tools that support local decision-making. In this regard, I have been fortunate to work with interdisciplinary teams that combine hydrogeology, geochemistry, data science, public health, and social science to understand contamination mechanisms, exposure pathways, and mitigation strategies. Our work has evolved beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. It has included building capacity through South–South and North–South collaborations, mentoring early-career researchers, and strengthening science diplomacy for shared transboundary water resources. At the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, I have been fortunate to find a nurturing academic environment that prioritizes interdisciplinary science and global engagement. At the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, I have been fortunate to find a nurturing academic environment that prioritizes interdisciplinary science and global engagement. The institutional support at KTH, through its research ecosystem, leadership, and collaborative culture has enabled me to sustain long-term partnerships, attract international research programs, and develop transdisciplinary training platforms that connect research to policy and practice. In partnership with universities and research centers across India, Bangladesh, China, Chile, Argentina, and sub-Saharan Africa especially Tanzania, I have witnessed how such collaborative frameworks can drive impactful science and create pathways for translating knowledge into solutions.
A particular area of pride has been supporting the next generation of geoscientists and hydrogeologists. Through teaching, mentorship, and leading global research training programs—such as those supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UNICEF the European Union and other international bodies—I have seen how emerging scientists from low- and middle-income countries can become transformative agents in addressing the regional water challenges. I am grateful to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and other funding organizations in Sweden for being supportive during these missions.
I am also deeply grateful for the opportunity to co-convene topical sessions and collaborative forums at GSA Annual Meetings, focusing on arsenic in groundwater, hydrogeochemical evolution, and environmental justice in water access. These have not only been venues to share new science but also platforms to build communities of practice that are tackling shared global challenges.
To my long-time colleagues, including Dr. Abhijit Mukherjee, whose citation I am honored to receive, and Dr. Alan Welch and Dr. Alan Fryar, who helped shape early discussions on arsenic geochemistry at GSA, I extend my sincere gratitude. Your collaboration, encouragement, and shared passion for scientific integrity have been invaluable.
As I reflect on this honor, I am reminded that the pursuit of sustainable groundwater solutions is more urgent than ever. The more rigorous impacts of climate variability, urbanization, agricultural intensification, and demographic change are converging to stress aquifer systems around the globe. As scientists, our responsibility is not only to diagnose these pressures but to contribute to actionable pathways forward. Through transparent research, inclusive dialogue, and transdisciplinary engagement, we can help shape a more resilient and equitable water future.
Thank you once again to the Geological Society of America, to the Awards Committee, and to all the mentors, collaborators, and students whose commitment to science and society continues to inspire and propel this journey. Finally, I would also like to convey my heartfelt thanks to my family—my loving wife Bhabani and daughters Promila and Urmila, who have always stood beside me throughout my professional journey.