People

Dr. Dinesh Pathak

President

Dr. Dinesh Pathak is a Professor at the Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University. He graduated in geology from Tribhuvan University and continued his research in exploration geophysics and hydrogeology (MS and Ph.D.) from Osaka City University. He is carrying out research in the field of hydrogeological assessment in the mountainous regions and plain areas; Natural hazards, especially landslides and floods; geomorphic evaluation for hydrogeological and landslide hazard assessment; Climate change projection leading to its impact in various sector, primarily in landslide and groundwater. Further, he has also provided professional services to the government, non-government and private sectors to execute various projects in these fields as a team leader and team member. Pathak has more than 3 dozens of publications in peer-reviewed national and international scientific journals. He has supervised dozens of students in master thesis and also some Ph.D. students are conducting research under his supervision.

Dr. Pathak has contributed to professional societies in various capacities, like Nepal Geological Society (President and General Secretary), Nepal GIS Society (Executive Member); Nepal Hydrogeological Association (Executive Member). He has also served as Editor (Journal of Nepal Geological Society) and Chief Editor (Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association).

Dr. Rocky Talchabhadel

Vice-President

Dr. Rocky Talchabhadel holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Jackson State University. Prior to this, he spent nearly three years as a Research Scientist in El Paso, TX at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, which is affiliated with Texas A&M University. He is the Finalist of AIM for Climate Grand Challenge: Leveraging the Power of AI and Machine-Learning, AIM for Climate Summit, Washington D.C., May 08 – 10, 2023. He is a hydrologist/water resources engineer, and he obtained his Ph.D. in Civil and Earth Resources Engineering in 2017 from Kyoto University, Japan. He has published over two dozen research papers and co-authored over forty publications in top-tier international/national journals. His expertise includes Hydrology, Atmosphere, Climate Change, Hydraulics, Remote Sensing, Water Resources Engineering, and Sediment Transport.

Dr. Bhesh Raj Thapa

General Secretary

Er. Dr. Bhesh Raj Thapa is an Associate professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Universal Engineering and Science College, affiliated with Pokhara University and working in the capacity of Principal. Dr. Thapa is a water resources engineer and did his Ph.D. in Integrated River Basin Management from the University of Yamanashi, Japan under the MEXT scholarship awarded by the government of Japan. He has been awarded Young Scientist Award 2077 by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in recognition of extensive research and scientific contribution in the area of water resources research and he is also affiliated with NAST as an associate fellow. He has also been honored with Nepal Vidyabhusan Padak ‘KA”; awarded by the Government of Nepal in recognition of outstanding academic performance in Ph.D. in Engineering.

He has expertise in the design and implementation of multipurpose water resources projects, hydropower, irrigation, agricultural water management, hydrological and hydrogeological modeling, groundwater management, and governance. He has worked as a water resource expert at several governmental (WECS, DWIDM, DOI, and DSCWM) and non-governmental agencies (World Bank, IWMI). Dr. Thapa has several years of teaching experience at the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, and Himalaya College of Engineering. He has published dozens of research papers in top-tier international journals and voluntarily affiliated with several renowned research-based institutions in Nepal.

Dr. Alka Sapkota

Treasurer

Dr. Alka Sapkota received her PhD in Environmental Engineering from UNEP–Tongji Institute of Environment
for Sustainable Development, Shanghai China. She has been working in the environmental and sustainable
development field notably climate change adaptation, solid waste management, waste to energy, water resource
management, renewable energy and development of EIA and SEA. She has participated in different national and
international seminars and presented her research work.

Mrs. Meera Prajapati

Member

Mrs. Prajapati is working as coordinator of the Department of Environmental Science at Khwopa College, Bhaktapur. She completed her M.Sc (Environmental Science) with specialization in Water Quality Management from IHE-Delft, Netherlands, and Water Resources Management from Khwopa College (Tribhuvan University). She has been working in Environmental Science for more than a decade and has expertise in water quality management and water resources management. She has supervised several MSc thesis and has published research papers in top-tier international and national journals. Mrs. Prajapati is currently working as treasurer in S4W-Nepal, and she has also been associated with several research organizations.

Dr. Saroj karki

Member

Currently working as a Water-Resources Engineer at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, Province-1, Nepal, Karki carries over eight years of experience in the management of water-induced hazards in Nepal. He has accomplished several projects on river training and landslide protection. As a River professional, his interest lies in finding the practical solutions to the underlying water-related issues of Nepal which range from the management of water-induced disasters, sediment, and the surface and groundwater problems of the country. His area of expertise includes Fluvial hydraulics, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, River morphology, etc.

Er. Rajaram Prajapati

Member

Mr. Prajapati is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, USA. He completed his M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering from the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus in Kathmandu, Nepal. Mr. Prajapati is a co-founder of S4W-Nepal and he also worked as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of S4W-Nepal for five years and he has two years of teaching experience in hydropower and irrigation engineering as an assistant lecturer at Khwopa Engineering College. Rajaram’s research interests focus on developing new ideas to fill the hydro-meteorological data gaps in data-scarce regions through remote sensing and citizen science approaches. At present, Rajaram is looking over a citizen-science-based project in the Kathmandu Valley as a Country Director. Besides, Mr. Prajapati is representing Nepal in CitizenScience.Asia as a country ambassador. Rajaram has always had a passion for research in these areas and is excited to supervise the works of the S4W team!

Dr. Sanjiv Neupane

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Neupane received his Ph. D. in Water Engineering and Management (2023) from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. He completed his Master’s degree in Water Engineering and Management from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in 2019. He was awarded the prestigious “His Majesty King’s Scholarship” to pursue his master’s degree. He has been involved in research project: “Mapping groundwater resilience to Climate Change and human development in Asian cities” and “Safeguarding Regional Food Security under Climate Change impacts via mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions-centered adaptation strategies (NAFOS)” both funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) during his Ph. D. He worked as a Civil Engineer in Ministry of Urban Development in Nepal before joining AIT. His core area of interest includes hydrological modeling, groundwater modeling, climate change, land use analysis and GIS based studies. Dr. Neupane has four papers published in international peer-reviewed journals and has delivered more than six conference papers on topics ranging from groundwater modelling, hydrological modeling to climate change and human development impacts and adaptation in the water sector. He is passionate about conducting research for sustainable watershed management in Nepal and is honored to work with S4W-Nepal to connect the ideas of young scientists and citizen scientists for the advancement of science.

Mr. Sudeep Duwal

Research Associate

Sudeep is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Health and Disaster Management at the Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, following the completion of his B.Sc. in Environmental Science at Khwopa College. He working as a Research Associate in Smartphones For Water Nepal (S4W-Nepal) for five years. He is passionate about research, particularly in community-based research, where he integrates advanced tools like mobile applications, remote sensing, and GIS to enhance citizen science methods for sustainable water management and disaster mitigation. At S4W-Nepal, he collaborates with citizen scientists to collect and analyze water resource data, and he actively disseminates these findings through publications, conferences, and seminars. This experience has significantly advanced his career, driving him to offer training and awareness programs to various communities. Sudeep is dedicated to his role at S4W-Nepal and is eager to expand citizen science approaches across different fields and regions.

Mr. Kaushal Rijal

Research Associate

Kaushal Rijal is a water resources engineer and researcher. His professional experience includes designing and supervising various water resources projects in Nepal, recently working as a consultant hydrologist and drainage engineer for the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project (ATCEP) for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) as part of ADB’s SASEC project, and as a consultant hydrologist for the Department of Railways, Nepal. Additionally, he is passionate about working with students and giving lectures to undergraduate civil engineering students. He is a graduate of the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). He has a keen research interest in the fields of water resources management, climate change, remote sensing, disaster preparedness, and nature-based solutions. His graduate thesis is related to the use of Landsat images to estimate areal evapotranspiration and associated droughts using the METRIC method. He is thrilled to join S4W-Nepal, where he can contribute to a dedicated research team focused on making a significant impact in the water resources sector using cost-effective technology. Kaushal’s passion for citizen science and his commitment to leveraging innovative, low-cost solutions make him an important part of the S4W-Nepal team. He is dedicated to advancing the field of water resources management and is excited to work on initiatives that promote sustainable water practices.

Mr. Hanik Lakhe

Research Associate

Hanik is a graduate of BSc. Environmental Science from Khwopa College, Bhaktapur. His journey commenced with his active involvement as a Citizen Scientist in Smartphones For Water Nepal (S4W-Nepal), and now he is working as a Research Associate. His research interests include but are not limited to sustainable water resource management, remote sensing in hydrology, extreme event analysis, and hydrological modeling. His passion lies in conducting research that integrates the citizen science approach, remote sensing, and modeling techniques to enhance the comprehension of water resources and address critical water-related issues. Hanik firmly believes that his association with the organization will foster professionalism and help him nurture other essential qualities required to achieve his future career aspirations. He feels immensely fortunate to collaborate with a team of highly motivated and ambitious young researchers, collectively dedicated to making a positive impact in the realm of water resource management.

Ms. Bidhya Maharjan

Admin and Logistics Assistant

Bidhya is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Studies at Nesfield International College, Lalitpur. She is employed as an Administrative and Logistics Assistant at Smartphones For Water Nepal. Previously, she has gained experience in various organizations, including the Sinduli Road Project II as an Administrative Staff, Dishome Media Company as a Customer Support Representative, and Nesfield International College as a Front Desk Officer. She brings strong managerial, communication, and logistics skills to her roles, contributing effectively to organizational management. Bidhya is eager to further enhance her administrative skills and aims to become part of a scientific community by integrating her managerial expertise with environmental research. As a motivated individual, she is deeply committed to environmental protection and aspires to support environmental welfare, particularly in the area of water resources, through her administrative and managerial contributions.

Ms. Rohinee Bishwas Mandal

Research Assistant

Rohinee is a student of B.Sc. Environmental Science at Khwopa College, Bhaktapur. She is currently working at Smartphones For Water Nepal (S4W-Nepal) as a ‘Research Assistant’. She loves art and enjoys working for environmental benefits. She is ardent in contributing to the sustainable management of water resources. She is fascinated by the citizen science approach of S4W-Nepal for hydro-meteorological data generation and has developed an interest in research works especially in the field of sustainable water resource management. She considers S4W-Nepal to be a platform that has been inspiring common people to participate actively in data collection and filling in the hydro-meteorological gaps in Nepal. Her participation in the organization is assisting her in advancing her professionalism and achieving her professional goals.

Mr. Pratik Khanal

Research Intern

Pratik Khanal is a civil engineering graduate from Himalaya College of Engineering. Currently, he is working as a research assistant at S4W-Nepal. Pratik’s professional journey reflects his deep commitment to the field of civil engineering and water resources management. He has a keen interest in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, which enhances his expertise in water resources projects. At S4W-Nepal, he is passionate about utilizing citizen science to generate valuable hydro-meteorological data. His role involves collaborating with a dedicated research team to make a significant impact in the water resources sector through the citizen science approach. Through his work, He aims to contribute to the advancement of water resources management and promote sustainable initiatives that benefit communities and the environment.

Ms. Shreeya Adhikari

Research Intern

Shreeya Adhikari, a civil engineering graduate from Kathmandu Engineering College, Tribhuwan University, has developed a keen interest in pursuing a career in water resources. Her academic journey sparked this passion, motivating her to focus on this vital field. Beyond her engineering studies, She is also passionate about art and research activities related to water resources management, climate change, and water security. Currently, she serves as a research intern at S4W-Nepal, where she is enthusiastic about the citizen science approach to generating hydro-meteorological data. She is excited by the integration of young researchers and mobile technology in water resource management. Her dedication to understanding and managing water resources positions her as a valuable asset to S4W-Nepal, where she aspires to make meaningful contributions toward sustainable water management practices.