India's S. Rajan re-elected to UN sea body

United Nations, June 7 (IANS) In a keenly contested election, India's candidate Dr. S. Rajan, has been re-elected to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for a five-year term from 2012-17.

With eight candidates in the fray for five seats in the Asia-Pacific group, Rajan was elected Wednesday in the first round obtaining 112 of the 161 valid votes cast at a meeting of the State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

An eminent scientist, Rajan is presently working with the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, a premier organization situated at Goa. He has been a member of the Commission since June, 2007.

He brings with him extensive expertise in matters relating to marine geophysical surveys and related issues and has been deeply involved in the implementation of the programme on delineation of outer limits of continental shelf.

He has also taken keen interest in developing national and international collaborative programmes including in polar sciences and Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP).

Rajan has to his credit several technical and professional papers which have been published in various journals, relating to Marine Geology, Geophysics, Geo-dynamics, Geo-magnetics, Oceanography, and Hydrography.