Dr. P.K. Shaji is a senior environmental scientist and botanist with over 35 years of experience in ecological research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental impact assessment. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany, with a focus on the Environmental Physiology of Plants, from Gujarat University (1992), following an M.Sc. in Ecology and a B.Sc. in Botany from the University of Kerala.
His career spans academic, research, and consultancy roles, with his longest association being with the Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC), Thiruvananthapuram. Starting as a Senior Research Assistant in 1992, Dr. Shaji rose to become Principal Scientist and Deputy Director by 2016. At ERRC, he coordinated interdisciplinary research, monitored R&D projects, developed proposals, and led several field-based studies and impact assessments for government and private organizations.
Dr. Shaji has also served as Assistant Professor at Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies (MACFAST), Thiruvalla, contributing to teaching and curriculum development in Environmental Management, Ecology, and Biodiversity. He was earlier associated with the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Palode, where he worked on floristic assessments and ecological surveys under the Centre of Excellence in Ecology.
He has offered consultancy expertise to institutions such as KITCO Ltd., Kochi; Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), Mumbai; Wilbur Smith Associates, Bengaluru; and CMD, Thiruvananthapuram. As a NABET-accredited EIA Coordinator and Functional Area Expert in Ecology and Biodiversity, he has led numerous high-level environmental assessments across India.
Dr. Shaji has coordinated or contributed to 39 major projects on biodiversity mapping, sacred groves, quarry assessments, and landscape ecology. He has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator for projects funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Kerala State Electricity Board, and ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
He has contributed to over 70 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) reports, covering hydropower, industrial projects, infrastructure expansion, and environmental sensitivity mapping. His work has significantly influenced sustainable development policy and practices.
In the academic field, he has held visiting faculty roles at institutions including MACFAST, the School of Environmental Sciences at Mahatma Gandhi University, and the Civil Service Academy, Thiruvananthapuram. He has also served on boards of examiners for Gujarat University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, and Mahatma Gandhi University.
His professional memberships include the Indian Science Congress Association, Gujarat Science Academy, Palynological Society of India (where he served as Treasurer), and the International Society for Research on Civilization, Diseases and Environment. He also serves as an ecological consultant to AGES, Thiruvananthapuram.
Dr. Shaji has authored or co-authored 19 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Current Science, Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal, and International Journal of Advanced Research, covering topics including rare flora, wetlands, and environmental monitoring. He has also written scientific reviews in Malayalam and contributed to three interdisciplinary books combining ecology, culture, and taxonomy.
Dr. Shaji’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to environmental research, education, and policy development, earning him wide respect in India’s ecological and scientific community.
