ABOUT

Founding Goal
Pollution Research and Innovations in Terrestrial and Aquatic Health and Vulnerability (PRITHVY) is an interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing scientific understanding at the intersection of GeoHealth, Geomicrobiology, Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, Sustainability, and Water Quality. Its work focuses on exploring how pollutants arise, move, transform, and interact within soils, waters, and living systems, and how these processes ultimately shape ecosystem resilience, environmental health, and human well-being. From tracing contaminants in rivers and aquifers to decoding the microbial and geochemical processes that govern pollutant breakdown in soils and sediments, PRITHVY integrates field research, laboratory experimentation, molecular and microbiological techniques, and advanced chemical analyses to reveal the hidden networks linking Earth’s natural systems to public health outcomes.

The name PRITHVY is inspired by the Sanskrit word Prithvi ((पृथ्वी), meaning Earth—the foundation of all life. This name reflects a holistic vision: recognizing the planet as a tightly interconnected system where land, water, atmosphere, and life continuously interact. By understanding these connections, the initiative seeks to transform scientific insights into practical, sustainable strategies that safeguard water quality, restore degraded ecosystems, and protect the health of communities.

PRITHVY’s identity can be envisioned as a globe divided into two complementary halves—one representing the terrestrial environment with soil layers, plant roots, microbial communities, and minerals; the other representing the aquatic environment with flowing rivers, wetlands, and aquatic life. Over this Earth-centered image, subtle pathways illustrate the movement of pollutants and nutrients between land and water, while symbolic icons for chemistry, microbiology, health, and sustainability highlight the initiative’s multidisciplinary nature. This visual encapsulates PRITHVY’s core philosophy: that environmental protection and public health are inseparable, and that innovative research can illuminate solutions for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future.