BIOGRAPHY

Vishwas Chavan
Scientist, National Chemical Laboratory

National Chemical Laboratory
SMIS Division
Dr. Homi Bhabah Road
Pune 411 008
India
+91 (20) 5893457 Ext. 26
+91 (20) 5893973 Fax
vishwasc@yahoo.com
vishwas@ems.ncl.res.in

Vishwas Chavan has been employed at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad as a scientist since June 1998, facilitating the activities of Bioinformatics Centre and preparing a master plan for bioinformatics activities. His work in the area of biological computing and the challenge to digitize vast amounts of Indian biodiversity knowledge has given Dr. Chavan a niche area to develop and employ IT tools in sustainable utilization of our biotic resources. Prior to this, he was introduced to the role of computers in data management and secured a job at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) as Information Officer (November 21, 1992 - June 19, 1999).

His work here developed into an interest in computer-mediated communication technology which led to commissions to develop LAN systems, the first oceanographic web site (http://www.nio.org/) amongst developing nations, and various web products such as an oceanographic information search engine (Manthan - http://www.nio.org/manthan/), and a web directory of oceanographic institutions and personnel in India (Daryavardi - http://www.nio.org/daryavardi/). His work in HTML, CGI, Perl and Java scripts, and development of web-interfaced, relational multimedia databases has resulted in widespread recognition within the scientific and educational community.

Dr. Chavan has published more than 50 research and review papers, developed a dozen databases and program packages that have been employed in the service of the scientific community, and been invited to deliver more than 25 guest and resource lectures by institutions and organizations all over the country (India). He has participated in more than 60 national and international seminars and symposiums, notably participating in the XV International CODATA Conference held at Tsukuba, Japan.

Vishwas Chavan received his secondary education from New English School Ramanbagh, Pune and went on to earn the XII Science (H.S.C.) from the Pune Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary education in 1985. He received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from N. Wadia College, I joined School of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune and received a Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences in June 1990. During his college days, he was active in many extra-curricular activities such as organizing science exhibitions and environmental awareness campaigns. He was awarded the N.C.C. "C" certificate for Naval Wing.