IN FOCUS: Profile of 2024 Regional Leader Awardee Avik Bhattacharya

By Joanne Van Voorhis

IEEE GRSS is profiling several recent awardees to both highlight their achievements and to encourage nominations for 2026 awards. Participating in the nomination process is rewarding and helps identify those who have significantly contributed to our fields of interest.

In this feature, we recognize the work of Prof. Avik Bhattacharya who was honored with the 2024 Regional Leader Award. Prof. Bhattacharya is Professor at the Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The Regional Leader Award recognizes individuals whose sustained efforts have advanced GRSS’s mission at the regional level, by strengthening community, fostering participation, and expanding the visibility of GRSS in areas of emerging scientific vitality.

For Prof. Bhattacharya, the recognition highlights a career that has combined high-level research with tireless community-building. The official citation commends him for “outstanding contributions in promoting GRSS regionally through founding the GRSS Bombay chapter, leadership roles in regional conferences (InGARSS and MIGARS), promoting GRSS videos in vernacular language (Hindi), and promoting gender diversity in regional GRSS activities.”

Bhattacharya’s current research focuses on polarimetric SAR techniques, geometric and physical scattering models, and their applications in agriculture, urban studies, and environmental monitoring. “I am particularly interested in advancing interpretable polarimetric descriptors, making advanced radar methods more accessible for operational applications,” he explains.

“Receiving the 2024 Regional Leader Award means a great deal to me…it represents not just my work, but the shared dedication of our volunteers, chapter chairs, young professionals, and students who contributed to every initiative,” explains Prof. Bhattacharya, who currently serves IEEE GRSS as Vice President of Professional Activities. “This recognition reminds me that leadership in GRSS is really about serving others and creating opportunities for people to grow and excel.

Awards like this also send an important message: regional efforts matter. They show that with commitment, empathy, and the courage to take the first step, anyone can make a meaningful impact in our community,” he adds.

Commitment to Outreach

Prof. Bhattacharya’s academic journey includes an integrated M.Sc. in Mathematics from IIT Kharagpur and a Ph.D. from Télécom ParisTech/INRIA in France. In his role as Professor with the Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering (CSRE), IIT Bombay (IITB), Mumbai, India, he has supervised numerous doctoral students, published extensively, and contributed to collaborative projects that apply remote sensing technologies to real-world challenges such as crop mapping, flood analysis, and disaster management. He was the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters from 2019 to 2023. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Remote Sensing and IEEE Open Journal of the Computer Society, and has also been the Guest Editor for several special issues in IEEE GRSS journals. He currently serves as Vice President of Professional Activities for GRSS and is a member of the 2024-2026 Administrative Committee (AdCom). Clearly he is a dedicated volunteer, but it is his ongoing dedication to outreach and community involvement that earned him the Regional Leader Award.

His journey in enhancing GRSS’s regional presence began with the establishment of the GRSS Bombay Chapter in 2017. As the founding chair, he laid the groundwork for a platform that would connect researchers, students, and professionals in India with the global GRSS community. The chapter has since become a vital hub for organizing technical talks, workshops, and outreach programs that help expand GRSS’s reach and impact in the region. “Outreach events, conferences, and local activities are catalysts,” he explains. “They spark collaborations, help young researchers find mentors, facilitate the exchange of ideas across borders and disciplines, and foster long-term partnerships. Outreach is fundamental to sustaining a healthy technical community,” he adds.

Leadership in Regional Conferences and Supporting Inclusivity

Beyond chapter activities, Prof. Bhattacharya has played pivotal roles in organizing key regional conferences, including the India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (InGARSS) and the Microwave and Geospatial Remote Sensing Conference (MIGARS). These conferences provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and capacity building among researchers and practitioners in the field of remote sensing. InGARSS 2025 will be held December 10-13 in Bhubaneswar,Odisha, India and will feature keynote addresses by eminent experts, technical paper presentations, workshops, and panel discussions on emerging trends such as AI-driven remote sensing, climate monitoring, disaster management, and sustainable development. The 2025 symposium represents the fifth gathering since InGARSS was launched In 2020.

Another hallmark of Prof. Bhattacharya’s leadership is his commitment to inclusivity. Recognizing the diverse linguistic landscape of India, he has spearheaded initiatives to produce GRSS content in vernacular languages, such as Hindi, making remote sensing knowledge more accessible to a broader audience. Additionally, he has actively promoted gender diversity within regional GRSS activities. Through his efforts, the IEEE GRSS YouTube channel now hosts a Hindi version of its “Wavie Videos” playlist, which include short educational videos on remote sensing topics.

“Inclusion has been a conscious priority in all my GRSS activities,” Bhattacharya explains. “One of the motivations behind producing tutorials and explainer videos in Hindi was to reach out to those who felt distant from GRSS simply because the material wasn’t in a language they were comfortable with,” he adds. Bhattacharya recognizes that “diversity is not just about representation, it is about removing the friction that prevents people from participating fully, thus expanding the circle of innovation.”

Regional Leadership that Expanded GRSS’s Reach in South Asia

GRSS established the Regional Leader Award in 2014 to promote, recognize and support members within the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society who have made significant technical, scientific and/or organizational achievements in the areas of interest to the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing community. The award celebrates the kind of guidance that Prof. Bhattacharya exemplifies – leadership that builds community, creates opportunity, and sustains participation at the grassroots level. Through his initiatives, the GRSS presence in South Asia has expanded dramatically. The Bombay Chapter’s regular activities now include annual distinguished lectures, student contests, and professional development sessions. The success of InGARSS, in particular, has elevated India’s profile within the GRSS global network, drawing international experts and sparking new collaborations.

When asked why outreach matters and what others can do to engage more effectively in their regions, Bhattacharya observed that engaging a region or local community begins at the grassroots level. “Every region has its own strengths, challenges, and aspirations. When we understand the needs, even small initiatives can have a meaningful impact,” he explains. He advises volunteers and leaders to be active and approachable, noting that many talented individuals want to contribute but hesitate until someone reaches out to them. He also recognizes the value of creating opportunities that encourage engagement. “Regular events or webinars provide momentum and a sense of belonging,” he explains. And he strongly believes in the impact of empowering others. “When volunteers feel a sense of ownership, the community becomes self-sustaining,” he explains.

Bhattacharya’s current research focuses on polarimetric SAR techniques, geometric and physical scattering models, and their applications in agriculture, urban studies, and environmental monitoring. “I am particularly interested in advancing interpretable polarimetric descriptors, making advanced radar methods more accessible for operational applications,” he explains.

2026 Award Nominations are Encouraged through December 15

Do you know of someone who deserves recognition? We encourage nominations from around the world for the GRSS annual awards program, and seek your support to celebrate individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field. Nominations for most 2026 awards are accepted through December 15. Your participation in the process is appreciated.