India-born scientist honoured in Australia

An India-born scientist has been recognised by the Australian government for his "distinguished service to science, particularly in the field of sustainable productivity and management of forests".

Sadanandan Nambiar, a researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia's capital Canberra was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on the occasion of Australia Day Jan 26, the Canberra Times reported.

Nambiar said he was proud that his team had been able to provide a good basis for sustainable production of Australian forests and balanced answers to the management of native forests in Australia and south-east Asia.

Nambiar added that he had sought to inform the public on how natural and man-made forests worked and how they could best be handled.

"I don't think I can honestly say I set out to pursue knowledge for the sake of knowledge... my call was a bit different -- the pursuit of science for the use of science in a balanced way, for a better society," he said.

Nambiar said he found Australia to be a welcoming place and decided that the CSIRO was the right place to pursue his research work.

"In issues that matter, (Australia) is the fairest place I know," Nambiar said.

Nambiar was born in India and has been living in Australia since 1970. He took up the position of researcher at CSIRO in 1989.