Dr. K. Kathiresan, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., is the Honorary Professor and UGC-BSR Faculty Fellow (Professor-Emeritus), Formerly Dean & Director, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Formerly Member-Syndicate in Annamalai University.

Dr. Kathiresan is a world class scientist, who has spent practically most of his academic career by studying the mangrove wetlands. His research on the mangroves as a potential source of drugs is a pioneering work and highly innovative. He undertook extensive field studies along the coastal India, and compiled about 4000 biological species; No other country in the world has recorded so many species to be present in the mangrove forests. He discovered a new mangrove species, and named it after his University as Rhizophora annamalayana. He extensively analyzed the causes of degradation of mangrove forests, successfully formulated a package of techniques for mangrove restoration. He also demonstrated the technique to work in the field along the Vellar estuary in Tamil Nadu and the Ariyankuppam estuary in Puducherry. The mangrove forests raised by his efforts saved hundreds of human lives in Parangipettai during the 2004 tsunami and also improved the fishery resources. Being the National expert on mangrove wetlands, Dr. Kathiresan has served in many committees such as National Biodiversity Authority (2007-2009), National Consultant for drafting a National Strategy & Action Plan for the IUCN programme of MFF, National committee on mangroves and coral reefs (l997 to 2003), National Research Sub-Committee of the above-Ministry from (2004 to 2007), Mangrove Task Force (1999), Tamil Nadu State Wildlife Board (2004-05 & 2011-12). He also helped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Govt. of India) to draft guidelines for mangrove conservation and management.

Currently Dr. K. Kathiresan is one of the members in the Steering Committee of the All India Coordinated Programme on Taxonomy, under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Govt. of India and also Tamil Nadu State level Sub-Committee on mangroves and coral reefs (since 2005). He is also presently the member of IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, and Wetland International Africa. Currently he is the Vice President of National Institute of Ecology, Jodhpur and also Vice President of Mangrove Society of India, Goa. He has conducted many awareness and training programmes for mangroves. Special mention is to be made on the 15-day International training course, conducted by him every year since 2003 for the benefit of about 250 people from 28 countries with the financial assistance of United Nations University and UNESCO. Apart from India, he has undertaken field studies on mangroves in 16 other countries viz., Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Abu-Dhabi, Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Senegal, Gambia and Nigeria as well visited Germany.

Dr. Kathiresan has about 500 publications including research, review and popular articles in reputed journals as well 10 books. Two of his research papers are among the top 10 highly cited papers on mangroves in the world. He has the citation of 9225 and “ h” index of 42 and i10 of 142 for his publications (in Google Scholar as on May 2019). He executed 22 major projects as Principal Investigator, 4 projects as Co-investigator,6 consultancy projects and 8 student projects as well as guided 40 Ph.D., and 22 M. Phil., degrees. In appreciation of his contributions to mangrove environment, Annamalai University has conferred on him with the highest degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Marine Biology.

Dr. Kathiresan is a recipient of many awards with special mention to “Life Time Achievement Award” in 2007 for his contribution to marine microbiology, by Indian Association of Applied Microbiologists, “Tamil Nadu Scientist Award” in 1995, “DBT National Associateship” in 1989, International “NAGA” award in 2001, “Distinguished teacher” award of Annamalai University in 2009, and the Elected Fellow of National Institute of Ecology in 2004 , “Mangrove Society of India ” in 2017, and National Academy of Biological Science 2019. Prof. Kathiresan is a social worker. He has been serving in the Rotary International Club in Chidambaram since 1996 and served as NSS programme Officer in Annamalai University from August 1985 to March 1989.