Dr Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles’ Chief Executive and an accomplished environmentalist has been inducted into Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honour Society, a non-profit scientific and engineering honour society.
One of the oldest and most prestigious honour societies in the world, Sigma Xi was founded at Cornell University in the United States in 1886. Sigma Xi membership is by invitation only and members nominate others based on their research achievements. Dr Shah was nominated by two members, one of whom was his former professor.
The goals of Sigma Xi are to honour excellence in scientific investigation and to encourage cooperation among scientists and engineers in all fields. Dr Shah joins an elite group of scientists dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity. Among its members are many of the world’s most influential scientists, including more than 200 Nobel Prize winners.
Dr Shah’s recent admission to Sigma Xi recognizes a lifetime of conservation efforts. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to preserving the Seychelles archipelago’s unique biodiversity through scientific research and conservation.
At the helm of Nature Seychelles, Dr Shah has spearheaded numerous projects aimed at restoring coral reefs, protecting endangered species like birds and turtles and promoting sustainable fisheries management. He has been recognized both locally and internationally for his tireless advocacy for environmental stewardship.
He is a firm believer that science must underpin every environmental action and has authored and co-authored hundreds of scientific papers.
Dr Shah’s commitment to conservation transcends borders, influencing regional efforts to preserve the fragile ecosystems in the western Indian Ocean and promoting collaborative scientific efforts.
He was a founding board member of WIOMSA and helped to guide the organization’s work. He was elected its President from 2009 to 2013, making him the first citizen from a small island developing state of the region elected to head the association.
Dr Shah was also the long-term chair of the Marine and Coastal Science for Management programme, helping to build capacity for marine science and policy. He has contributed extensively to the development of other WIOMSA activities and programmes such as the Western Indian Ocean Certification of Marine Protected Area Professionals (WIO-COMPAS) Programme and the WIOMSA Magazine, on which he served as Editor.