Dr. Soni graduated in Mining Engineering from Ravishankar University, Raipur,Chattisgarh in 1983 and completed his postgraduation from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and Ph. D. in Environmental Science and Engineeringfrom Centre of Mining Environment, Indian School of Mines (ISM) , Dhanbad in 1998. He was awarded William GreenwooodScholarship of Association of Geo-Scientists for International Development (AGID), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.He has served Coal India Limited (at SECL subsidiary) and Department of Mining Engineering, Government Engineering College,Raipur (Chhattisgarh) before joining CMRI as scientist in 1987. Thus, he has 30 years experience in field, teaching and research forvarious areas of environment and sub-surface sciences.He has visited USA and U.K. in connection with research work and widely traveled across the country. Dr.A.K.Soni is currentlyHead of CIMFR (Unit -1) Nagpur office and engaged in research in mine environment and allied areas. He has wide exposure ofadministration too in S&T / R&D filed. His area of interest for research is “Geo-hydrological problems related to mines”. In the past,he was associated with development of eco-friendly techniques of mineral extraction and has worked for R&D in the area of“Environmental Management in Fragile / Sensitive Areas with particular reference to mining operations and hill type areas (Himalaya)”. He has developed ‘Environmental Degradation Index (EDI)’ for applications in mining in ecologically fragile areas andhas special interest in policy issues on mining and environment.Actively associated with technical and professional organizations and societies e.g. Institution of Engineers (India), MiningEngineers Association of India (MEAI), International Mine water Association (IMWA) and Association of Geo-scientists forInternational Development (AGID). To his credit, he has more than 100 technical publications on environmental related topics innational and international journals, conference proceedings, workshops monographs, books etc. in Hindi and in English and hashandled nearly 100 R&D projects in the capacity of principal investigator and principal co-ordinator. He has received best R&Dpaper award from nationally accredited technical society viz. Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) in 2003 and best citizen award in2006.
