History of the Department
Geology is an interdisciplinary subject connected to hydrogeology, geophysics, petrology, mineral prospecting, and mineralogy. Our College Founder Secretary Kulapathi Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu established the department of geology in 1964.
As the first faculty member, Mr. T. M. Ganesan helped in establishing the Geology department. Dr. K. Kadirvelu made a significant contribution to the department to make it fully functional. Dr. K. Kadirvelu's teamwork with Mr. R. Muthukrishnan, Mr.Seshachalam, and Mr. Ramachandran throughout his time has made Geology a highly preferred department. In 1979, Dr. N. Ramanujam joined the department and supported the development of the department.
Until 1980, the Geology department offered just an undergraduate course. Our founding Secretary took the initiative to elevate the department to the level of a Post Graduate department. In 1980, the department welcomed Dr. V. Radhakrishnan,Mr. J. Mathan Jeyapal, Dr. R. Chellasamy, Mr. R. Thirugnanasambandam, Dr. N. Chandrasekar,Dr. G. Manimaran, Dr. P. Venktaraman, and Dr. A. V. Udayana Pillai as faculty members. Dr. P. Sivasubramanian joined the department in 1997.
In 1991 the department was designated as a research center by the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.
Dr. A. Balasubramanian and Dr. V. Radhakrishnan were granted two large projects by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, in the early 1990s. Dr. A. Balasubramanian received a Boyscott scholarship and studied at James Cook University in Australia. Dr. V. Radhakrishnan completed a three-week training course in Sediment Transport Technology in Ankara, Turkey. The Technical Research and Quality Control Department of the Government of Turkey, Ankara, chose him and offered him a scholarship.
Mr. R. Thirugnanasambandam presented a paper titled "Integrated Approach to Groundwater Exploration along the Tuticorin Coast, India" at the International Conference on Environmental Management, Geo-Water, and Engineering Aspects held at the University of Wollongong, Australia, as part of the Indo-Australian Cultural Exchange Programme. Dr. N. Chandrasekar took part in the project "Surveys for Polymetallic Nodules" in collaboration with M.V. Farnella from 22.10.1983 to 05.12.1983, which was organized by the National Institute of Oceanography, Geological Oceanography division, Government of India.
Dr. N. Ramanujam was granted three major projects from various central government funding agencies during his period. Dr. P. Sivasubramaniam was granted six major projects from various central government funding agencies from 1996 onwards.
In 1993, Dr. A. Balasubramanian, faculty member of Geology, was relieved from V. O. Chidambaram College to become a Professor in the Department of Studies in Geology, Mysore University. In 2003, Dr. N. Chandrasekar, faculty member of Geology, was relieved from V. O. Chidambaram College to the Department of Geotechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University as a professor. In 2008, Dr. N. Ramanujam, faculty member of Geology, was relieved from V. O. Chidambaram College to become a Professor in the Department of Disaster Management, Pondicherry University. In 2008, Dr. V. Radakrishnan, faculty member of Geology, was relieved from V. O. Chidambaram College to become a Professor in Department of Marine Science, Barathidasan University.
We are proud to mention that Dr. N. Chandrasekar is appointed as the vice chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University from __ to __ .
Dr. D. Manimaran began teaching in the department in 2007. Dr. S. Selvam, Dr. A. Antony Ravindran, and Dr. V.Stephen Pitchaimani joined the department in 2017. Dr. S. Selvam has been granted eight projects so far through various central (UGC, DST, MoES, etc,.) and state government agencies since 2015. Dr. A. Antony Ravindran received a project grant from MoES in the year 2020. In 2021 and 2022, Dr. S. Selvam’s research profile was featured in the elite list of Stanford University as one among the top 2% scientists worldwide on the basis of indices, citations and publications in 2020.
In 2022, under the Headship of Dr. P. Sivasubramanian, Dr. M. Rajamanickam, Dr. A. Ramachandran,Dr. S. Muthusamy, Dr. J. Christinal, and Dr. M. Thirumurugan joined the department.