Applications of Palynology in Stratigraphy and Climate Studies, 1st ed. 2024 Society of Earth Scientists Series

This book highlights the importance of palynology in understanding floral biodiversity, paleoclimate and depositional environments in deep time and recent sediments. It includes contributions from renowned Indian palynologists who work on the applied aspects of palynology. The book focuses on the significance of palynology in solving various geological problems, ranging from the Precambrian to the Recent. This book will be useful to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and academicians working in geology and botany, as well as international researchers interested in palynological research work in India. 

Professor Bandana Samant acquired her post graduation in geology from H. N. Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, India and she did her Ph. D in palynology of lignite deposits of Gujarat from prestigious Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, DehraDun, Uttarakhand. Dr. Samant carried out her postdoctoral research work as a Research Scientist, Research Associate and Senior Research Associate in projects sponsored by funding agencies such as Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).  In 2005, she joined the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, UP (India), the premier central university of India, as a lecturer and since 2009 she is working at the Postgraduate Department of Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, India. She is credited to have completed seven research projects awarded by reputed national funding agencies. She has published more than 60 research papers, including one in ‘Nature Communication’. She also worked as a collaborator in two National Science Foundation, USA funded research projects. She was awarded ‘Best Researcher Award’ by RTM Nagpur University in 2021. Prof. Samant has successfully guided three research students for Ph. D. She was a member of the National Working Group of prestigious International Geoscience programme, IGCP-609. She has visited the USA, Ireland, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, Korea to deliver invited lectures and present her research work. She is working on the palynoflora of Deccan volcanic associated sediments to understand the response of the flora to Deccan volcanism induced climatic and environmental changes. Her research work is also focused on the coprolites of sauropods to understand habitat and diet of dinosaurs during Late Cretaceous.  

Deals with the applied aspect of palynological studies in deep time and recent sediments

Highlights significance of palynology in understanding climate change from Precambrian to present

Provides comprehensive account of advances in palynological studies