Dr Dhiraj Pradhananga has over 30 years of experience in water, climate, and environmental sciences, making significant contributions to education, research, and advocacy for climate resilience. He began his professional career as a meteorologist at Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (1995–1998) and is currently an Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University. He is a UNESCO Chairholder in Mountain Water Sustainability and a Vice President of the International Commission of Snow and Ice Hydrology (ICISH) of IAHS (2023–2027). As the President of The Small Earth Nepal (SEN), Dr Pradhananga promotes sustainable lifestyles through education, research, and community networks.
Dr Pradhananga holds advanced degrees in hydro-meteorology and environmental sciences, including two master’s degrees: one in Meteorology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and another in Environment from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He also completed a PhD in Glacier Hydrology from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, as well as postgraduate diplomas in hydrology (IIT Roorkee, India) and environmental management (Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands).
A leader in research and capacity-building initiatives, Dr Pradhananga has led numerous national and regional projects and coordinated and established initiatives, such as Nepal National Water and Weather Week, citizen science programs, Students-Teachers-Scientists-Community networks, graduate conferences, and a peer-learning platform that fosters knowledge exchange between high school students, undergraduates, and graduates. His work bridges science and communities, emphasizing climate change impact assessments, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development in mountainous regions.
Dr Pradhananga remains committed to fostering knowledge exchange and public awareness through innovative educational platforms and collaborative projects, advancing usable science to build resilient communities in Nepal and beyond.