Climate Scientist Krishna AchutaRao, IIT Delhi Professor, Dies at 62
IIT Delhi professor Krishna AchutaRao, a leading climate attribution scientist, died Friday at 62 after a prolonged illness.
Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi and one of India's foremost climate scientists, passed away on Friday. He was 62 and had been unwell for some time.
AchutaRao was widely recognised for his pioneering work in attribution science, a field that quantifies the role of human-induced climate change in individual extreme weather events. He was closely associated with World Weather Attribution, an international network of scientists that assesses major weather extremes globally to determine the extent of the human footprint on such events.
His expertise also contributed significantly to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN-backed body that periodically conducts comprehensive global assessments of climate change.
Beyond his research, AchutaRao was deeply committed to protecting marginalised and vulnerable communities from the adverse effects of climate change. He played a key role in establishing the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation at IIT Delhi. He championed the interdisciplinary nature of climate science and advocated for strengthening the country's network of early warning systems.
Known for his ability to explain complex scientific concepts in simple terms, AchutaRao was also an avid science communicator. Colleagues remembered him for his scientific temper, meticulous attention to detail, and sense of humour.
He is survived by his wife, Mila Mitra, an astrophysicist who has worked with NASA and is the co-founder and academic head of STEM & Space, an education company focused on popularising science among schoolchildren.