- Indian scientist-academician N Raghuram became first Indian and Asian to get elected as Chair of International Nitrogen Initiative (INI), a global policy-making initiative.
- He will succeed Mark Sutton of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh.
- Besides, him David Kanter of the New York University was elected as Vice-Chair. The new chairs will formally take up their roles on January 1, 2019.
- Their responsibility will be to steer network of six regional centers each under INI Regional Director (East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America).
International Nitrogen Initiative (INI)
- INI is an international program, set up in 2003 under the sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of Environment (SCOPE) and from International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP).
- INI is coordinated by the Steering Committee, led by a chair and six regional center directors.
- INI is also currently sustained partner of Future Earth - an international research organization.