Celebrating our new Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry, Pallavi Anand

We are celebrating another new professor in EEES, following the promotion of Dr Pallavi Anand to Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry.

Pallavi is internationally recognized for her multidisciplinary research in Ocean Biogeochemistry, Palaeoclimate, and Diversity and Inclusion. Here we offer a brief overview of Pallavi's contributions.

Pallavi’s research focuses on geochemical tools in biominerals (such as foraminifera) and their application to reconstruct past climates. She collaborates to integrate observational data with numerical models to understand past Asian Monsoon rainfall evolution, aiding future rainfall prediction in response to changing climate through process-based understanding from the past.

Pallavi’s monsoon research has contributed to community efforts in Geological Society Scientific Statement and Global Tipping Point Report.

Professor Pallavi Anand, taking measurements in a laboratory.

She recently led a team of researchers, including social scientists and EDI experts, to better understand representation and progression of minority groups within UK geochemistry academic career ladder (Anand, et al., 2024).

Pallavi is committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in environmental and Earth sciences, co-chairing the DEI committee of the European Association of Geochemistry to improve DEI awareness and practices in the scientific community.

To address equity at the grassroots, Pallavi has 15 years of experience in coordinating and supervising research placements for A-level students from disadvantaged backgrounds in partnership with the Nuffield Foundation. She has involved OU PhD students in this scheme, enabling them to obtain teaching experience. Pallavi has expanded this scheme, and now co-ordinates it across the Faculty of STEM and other disciplines at the Open University, including Psychology.

As a mentor, Pallavi supports postgraduate students and early career researchers in laboratory techniques and in following diverse career paths. She has held various postgraduate research related management and governance roles at the OU, advocating for improved PhD training and support. Pallavi also serves on UKRI/NERC assessment panels for research, analytical capability and infrastructure and doctoral training grants.

Pallavi brings her research into OU teaching at undergraduate levels: Level 1 (S111, Questions in Science), Level 2 (e.g. S206/S(XF)206, Environmental Science) and Level 3 (e.g. SDT 306, Environment: responding to change; S309, Earth System processes).

Congratulations to Pallavi on her significant academic achievement as Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry.