Prof Dr S Anil Kumar

Prof. (Dr.) S. Anil Kumar Vadavathoor

Email ID: anil[dot]vadavathoor[at]iimc[dot]gov[dot]in

Brief Profile

Prof. (Dr.) S. Anil Kumar Vadavathoor, a senior journalist turned academician, has made outstanding contributions to science communication for over 45 years. He received the prestigious National Award for Science & Technology Communication in 2020 and the Rajendra Prabhu Shield for Excellence in Science Communication in 2021. Dr. Anil Kumar has written over 2,000 articles, that spreads scientific temper among the masses. His work has been honored with multiple Kerala State Awards, including Best Development Journalism in 1987 and Best Science Reporter in 1997, 2011, and 2019. He also received the Award for Best Book on Popular Science by Government of Kerala  in 2014 and State Award for Best Children's Literature in 2022.

Beginning his career with Mathrubhumi in 1985, he served as the founder Director of the Directorate of  Public Relations and Publications at Cochin University of Science & Technology and established its Centre for Science Communication. He was the founder Head of Mass Communication & Journalism Department at Mahatma Gandhi University and played a key role as the principal architect in establishing IIMC Southern Regional Campus, where he currently serves as Professor and Regional Director. A prolific author of over 65 books, Dr. Anil Kumar is widely recognized for his long-running science column Sasthravicharam since 2008. He has also held key positions in various academic and scientific bodies across the country.
 
Qualification
B Sc., BJ.,LLB., PGDMM., Ph.D.
 
Area of Interest/ Specialization
Media History, Popular Science Communication, Children's Literature, Biography and Communication & Media
 
Experience
Prof. (Dr.) S. Anil Kumar (Anil Kumar Vadavathoor) is a renowned science communicator from Kerala with over 40 years of experience in science popularization. A national award-winning science journalist (2021), he has authored more than 60 books and 2,000 articles on science and the environment. His column Sasthravicharam, initiated since 2008, is the longest-running science column in any regional language. Starting his career with Mathrubhumi in 1985, Dr. Kumar founded the  Department of MCJ at Mahatma Gandhi University and currently leads IIMC's Southern Regional Campus. He has guided Ph.D. scholars, organized 12 national science writing workshops, and authored key works like Science Journalism: A Practice Manual for Science Communicators, which remains essential for aspiring science writers. He was a member of the State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) and the Science Popularization Committee under KSCSTE, Govt. of Kerala, besides various academic bodies through out the country.
 
Awards and Honours
Dr. Anil Kumar  received the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization through Print Media in the year 2021 and the Rajendra Prabhu Shield for Excellence in Science Journalism, both conferred by the Government of India. He has also earned multiple Kerala State Awards, including Best Science Journalism (2019, 2011, 1997) and Best Popular Science Book (2014). His investigative work earned him the State Award for Development Journalism in 1987. Dr. Anil Kumar was recognized for his contributions to children’s literature with the State Award in 2022.  He also received the UPASI-SRISTI SANMAN Gold Medal (1994) for Farm Reporting, Dr. C.P. Menon Memorial Award (2011), and Vasudeva Keerthi Puraskar (2022) for lifetime achievement in Science Journalism. He also won a Best Paper Award at the Indian Science Congress in 2010 for his work on science communication in Malayalam. 
 
Publication (Top 10)
Books:
  • History of Print Media in Malayalam, Media House, Delhi, 2023.
  • Rasathanthrathinte Mahaguru, Chandni Books, Thiruvananthapuram, 2023. A Brief History of Popular Science Literature in Malayalam, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Southern Regional Campus) Kottayam, 2022.
  • Science Journalism-Vikasavum Parinamavum (Science Journalism, Genesis and Development), State Institute of Languages, Thiruvananthapuram, 2001.
  • Media Science Hand Book (Science and Technology-Handbook-Cum-Scientific Terminology Guide for Journalists in Malayalam), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 2012.
  • Bharatha Kesari Mannathu Padmanabhan, Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Limited, Kottayam, 2011.
  • Science Journalism- A Practice Manual for Science Communicators, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 2009.
  • Farm Journalism in Kerala (History of agricultural journalism in Kerala), Ajith Books, Cochin, 2000.
  • Hrudaya Poorvam, Sreshta Books, Thiruvananthapuram, 2021.
  • Sardar K M Panicker, Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Limited, Kottayam, 2013.
  • Sir C Shankaran Nair, Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Limited, Kottayam, 2016.
  • Pathra charithrathinte 100 varshangal, Media House, Delhi, 2021.
  • Osile Mahamanthrikan, Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Limited, Kottayam, 2019.
  • Sastramezhuthu Malayalathil (Genesis of popular science literature in Malayalam), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi-2014.
  • Thanneerthadamgalum Jaivavaividhyavum (Wetlands and Biodiversity), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 2017.
  • Science Communication and Scientific Temper (Essays on science communication), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 2011.
Research Projects
Undertook half a dozen projects  Sponsored by KSCSTE, Government of Kerala.