PROF. KARUNAKARA NAREGUNDI
Coordinator
Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER)
Mangalore University
Mangalagangothri – 574 199.

His research interests are :
• Radiation Protection, Radioecology, and Instrumentation
• Studies on transfer factors and transfer coefficients for radioactive and non radioactive elements in the environment with emphasis on transfer factor to food chain around the nuclear facilities and mining regions
• Carbon-14 and Tritium measurements
• Baseline studies around proposed nuclear facilities and mining regions
• Impact assessment around operational facilities
• Neutron Activation Analyses
• Development of new techniques for radiation measurements
• Use of radionuclides for studying environment behavior and problems – Application of 137Cs and 210Pb to study the soil erosion and sedimentation rate measurements of reservoirs

Dr. Karunakara has been working in this field for 25 years and has authored 82 research publications in journals and about 160 presentations in conferences. He is also a reviewer for several international journals, teaches courses on radiation protection and guides Ph D scholars. He was the Guest Editors for a special volume of Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Elsevier and recently published a special issue of Journal of Environmental Radioactivity on Polonium and Radioactive Pb isotopes.

Dr. Karunakara was awarded with the prestigious Dr. A. K. Ganguly Felicitation Award in the year 2012 by the Indian Association for Radiation Protection (IARP) for his outstanding contributions in radio-ecological studies and developing new measurement techniques. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has indentified him as an Expert in radiecological studies. He has scientific collaboration with many countries. He has guided 5 students for their Ph D and currently guiding 8 students. He has 5 ongoing major research projects and completed 3 projects so far.

Dr Karunakara was instrumental in establishing a Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER. He has 5 ongoing major research projects and completed 4 projects so far.

Areas of Research Interest:
i. Applications of Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology
ii. Environmental Radioactivity and Radiation Dosimetry
iii. Radiation Scattering Studies
iv. Nucleonic Gauges
v. Radioactive Aerosols

Research Publications:
1. National and International Journals: 60
2. Seminars, Symposia and Conferences: 120
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I worked in CARER for my Ph.D. on “Studies on Radiation Level, Radionuclides and Trace Elements Concentration in Environmental Matrices around Gogi Uranium Mining Region”. CARER has world class facility for Ultra Low Background High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometer systems. CARER has modern advanced user friendly Radiation Detectors and many other sophisticated instruments which lead to Researchers dream come true. During my research studies, I had the opportunity to work in Gogi Uranium mineralisation region of North Karnataka.
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I worked in CARER for my Ph D on ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn measurement techniques and modelling for the adsorption of radioactive gas through porous media. CARER has world class facility for ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn measurements. At CARER we developed a technology and prototype system for ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn mitigation from off-gas streams of uranium and thorium processing facilities. The technology was transferred to BARC. This programme is of national importance. During my research studies, I had the opportunity to work in BARC Mumbai, IIT Bombay and many other DAE institutes.

I am working on “Atmospheric deposition fluxes of ⁷Be and ²¹⁰Pb in west coast of India” at CARER. I am estimating the deposition rate, deposition velocity, scavenging ratios for ²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Po, ⁷Be and ¹³⁷Cs. At CARER, I have the opportunity to work with the state-of-the-art gamma spectrometry laboratory with HPGe and NaI(Tl) detectors (Canberra, USA). During my research studies, I had the opportunity to work in Kaiga Generating Station and BARC.

I am working in CARER for my Ph.D. on “Standardisation of techniques for the measurement of ¹⁴C in environmental matrices and evaluation of population doses in the vicinity of PHWR nuclear power plant, Kaiga.” Database on ¹⁴C release from Nuclear Power Plants in India and its concentration in environmental matrices are not available. This study is a systematic effort in this regard. Working in the field of Environmental Radioactivity is really arduous, but CARER has made it viable. During my research studies, I have the opportunity to work in Nuclear Power Plant at Kaiga, IGCAR and BARC.

I am working in CARER for my Ph D on standardisation of techniques for the measurement of tritium (OBT and TFWT) in environmental matrices and evaluation of Population Doses in the vicinity of PHWR nuclear power plant, Kaiga. CARER has world class facility for ¹⁴C and ³H measurements. At CARER, we have world class facilities such as Pyrolyser, Quantlus-1220 Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer, etc. for my research programme. During my research studies, I have the opportunity to work in Nuclear Power Plant at Kaiga, IGCAR and BARC.

I’m Srinivas S Kamath, a junior research fellow working in this centre. I have been working in a BRNS project on Tritium method development. In this laboratory I got a noble opportunity to handle different radioactive instruments like Liquid Scintillation counter, Pyrolyser, High Performance Germanium detectors etc.,.
This centre has been supporting me in my Ph.D in all ways. From the onset I have been doing a survey of tritium in different zones and matrices in and around Kaiga Generating Station. I see an overall development in me to have the best experience in handling a project. The day I had joined this centre I was overwhelmed to have a research friendly environment and a self-sustained laboratory.
In the upcoming years I would like to see myself as a useful experiences hand in the field of environmental radioactivity serving the nation.

I am working in CARER for my Ph D on ²²²Rn & ²²⁰Rn progeny and establishing an equilibrium factor distribution for the southern region of India. At CARER we calibrate ²²²Rn detectors (Active as well as passive) in the walk-in type calibration chamber which is first of its kind in the country and also aim at carrying out intercomparison exercises with nationally as well as internationally calibrated detectors. CARER has world class facility for ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn and its progeny measurements. During my research studies, I am given the opportunities to work in BARC Mumbai and many other DAE institutes.