NAME
DESIGNATION
OFFICIAL ADDRESS
Dr. Ruby Ghosh
Scientist- B
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany,
53, University Road,
Lucknow- 226007
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
M. Sc., Ph. D (University of Calcutta)
TOPIC OF PH. D DISSERTATION
STUDIES ON BIOLOGICAL REMAINS FROM
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN WEST BENGAL,
INDIA TO TRACE THE ENVIRONMENT AND
SOCIO-CULTURAL EVOLUTION DURING LATE
QUATERNARY
E-MAIL
rubyghosh06@yahoo.co.in/
rubyghosh06@gmail.com
RESEARCH INTEREST
The climate during Holocene showed significant variability both in temporal and spatial domain. The
study of Holocene climate especially the last few thousand years is important because the climatic
condition during this period was driven by internal boundary conditions, such as size and shape of the
continents, the major ice-sheets and the external boundary conditions like mean radioactive forcing due
to changes in Earth-orbital geometry, that were similar to those today. Study of this interval, thus,
provides a means to gain insights into the natural variability that might be expected today in the
absence of human influence.
My interest is in reconstruction of monsoonal variability in Lower Gangetic plains and Eastern Himalayas
since late Quaternary. In India, especially in Eastern Himalayas and in lower Gangetic plains, only a few
attempts have been made to study the past monsoon variability combining the multproxy data i.e.
phytoliths and palynology. To fill in this gap, a multiproxy study combining pollen and phytoliths is
required to attempt a more precise climatic reconstruction.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Presently working as Scientist-B, in Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow (from
29.07.2011 till date)
With different proxies i.e. phytoliths and palynomorphs to explore Quaternary
Palaeoclimate of different regions of peninsular India.

From April, 2010- July, 2011
Worked as Research Associate of CSIR, New Delhi sponsored project entitled “Opal A
particles in environmental reconstruction and recognition of impact of natural disasters in
coastal region: Case study from coastal West Bengal”.

From November, 2009- March, 2010
Research Fellow in Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University
of Calcutta as honorary basis

From November, 2008- November, 2009
Worked as Extended SRF of CSIR, New Delhi sponsored project entitled “Biogenic silica in
quantitative reconstruction of coastal environment and recognition of tropical cyclone over
wash: Case study from Sunderbans, West Bengal”.

From December 2005 – October, 2008
Research Fellow in Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of
Calcutta as honorary basis

From November 2004 to December 2005
Worked as Birbal Sahni Research Scholar (SRF) funded by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany,
Lucknow [an autonomous Institute under Department of Science & Technology (Earth System
Science), Govt. of India, New Delhi] sponsored Project entitled "Archaeobotanical studies in Southern
part of West Bengal, India”

From December 2002-November 2004
Worked as Birbal Sahni Research Scholar (JRF) funded by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany,
Lucknow [an autonomous Institute under Department of Science & Technology (Earth System
Science), Govt. of India, New Delhi] sponsored Project entitled "Archaeobotanical studies in Southern
part of West Bengal, India.”
SCHOLARSHIPS, MEDALS/ AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS OR HONOURS RECEIVED DURING ACADEMIC
CAREER
Medals
: Awarded “Pratul Chandra Bhandari Medal 2006” for significant research work in
Archaeobotany from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow.
Award
: Awarded “INSA VISITING FELLOWSHIP FOR 2012-2013 TO VISIT NATIONAL STABLE
ISOTOPE FACILITY, DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS, INDIAN INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY,
KHARAGPUR”
Fellowships
:
BSRS (Birbal Sahni Research Scholarship) in a Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow [an
autonomous Institute under Department of Science & Technology (Earth System Science), Govt. of India,
New Delhi] sponsored Project entitled "Archaeobotanical studies in Southern part of West Bengal, India”
during December 2002 – November 2005.
Extended SRF of CSIR, New Delhi sponsored project entitled “Biogenic silica in quantitative
reconstruction of coastal environment and recognition of tropical cyclone over wash: Case study from
Sunderbans, West Bengal”, during 3rd November 2008- 30th November 2009.
Research Associate of CSIR, New Delhi sponsored project entitled “Opal A particles in environmental
reconstruction and recognition of impact of natural disasters in coastal region: Case study from coastal
West Bengal, since 1st April, 2010 up to 26.07.11.
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
1. Sayantani Das, Ruby Ghosh and Subir Bera. 2013. Application of non-grass phytoliths in
reconstructing deltaic environments: a study from the Indian Sunderbans. Palaeogeography
Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoecolog (Elsevier Publ.) (accepted)
2. Yi-Feng Yao, Xiao Li, Hong-En Jiang, David K. Ferguson, Francis Hueber, Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera
and Cheng-Sen Li 2012. Pollen and Phytoliths from Fired Ancient Potsherds as Potential
Indicators for Deciphering Past Vegetation and Climate in Turpan, Xinjiang, NW China. PLos ONE,
7(6) e39780. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039780
3. Ruby Ghosh, Naskar, Madhab and Subir Bera. 2011. Phytolith assemblages of grasses from the
Sunderbans, India and their implications for the reconstruction of deltaic environments.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (Elsevier Publ.), 311:93–102
4. Mahasin Ali Khan, Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera, R. A. Spicer and T. E. V. Spicer. 2011. Floral diversity
during Plio-Pleistocene Siwalik sedimentation (Kimin Formation) in Arunachal Pradesh, India and
its palaeoclimatic significance. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments (Springer Publ.),
91:237–255
5. Ruby Ghosh, Narayan Ghorai and Subir Bera. 2010. On the feeding preference of some flower
visitors of guava: a study through pollen analysis. Journal of the Botanical Society of Bengal, 64(2):
169-174.
6. Ruby Ghosh, Sudha Gupta, Subir Bera, Hong-en Jiang, Xiao Li and Cheng- Sen Li. 2008. Ovi-caprid
dung as an indicator of paleovegetation and paleoclimate in northwestern China, Quaternary
Research (Elsevier Publ.), 70 (2): 149-157.
7. Ruby Ghosh, Ashalata D’Rozario, and Subir Bera 2006. Can palynomorphs occur in burnt ancient
potsherds? An Experimental Proof, Journal of Archaeological Science (Elsevier Publ.), 33 (10):
1445-1451.
8. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera, Ashalata D’ Rozario, Manju Banerjee and Supriyo Chakraborty. 2006.
Plant remains from archaeological site as indicators of vegetation and agricultural practice
during 3320  400 to 2080  80 years BP in the Gangetic West Bengal, India. Journal of
Integrative Plant Biology (Blackwell Publ.), 48 (6): 628-641.
9. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera, Supriyo Chakraborty, Rupendra Kumar Chattopadhyay& Manju
Banerjee 2005. Significance of study of Phytoliths in understanding vegetational pattern in an
archaeological site of West Bengal, India. Phytomorphology, 55 (3&4) :221-232
10. De, A., Ruby Ghosh, De, B. and Subir Bera. 2001.Palynoassemblage of Quaternary Peat deposits
from Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Geology, 73(3): 181-186.
ABSTRACTS PUBLISHED
1.
2.
3.
Ruby Ghosh, Dipak Kumar Paruya, Yi-Feng Yao, Cheng-Sen Li and Subir Bera. 2012. A
combined pollen and phytolith record for post-Siwalik vegetation change in Darjeeling foothill region,
eastern Himalaya. In: 13th International Palynological Congress and 9th International Organisation of
Palaeobotany Conference 2012, held during August 23-30, 2012 at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Japanese Journal of Palynology (Special issue: Abstracts: IPC/IOPC 2012), pp.70.
Subir Bera, Ashalata D’ Rozario, Ruby Ghosh, Radhanath Mukhopadhyay. 2012. Record of a possible
Marattiaceous fern from the Upper Permian sediments of Indian Lower Gondwana. In: 13th International
Palynological Congress and 9th International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference 2012, held during
August 23-30, 2012 at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan. Japanese Journal of Palynology (Special issue:
Abstracts: IPC/IOPC 2012), pp.14
Ruby Ghosh, Dipak Kumar Parua and Subir Bera 2011. Phytolith spectra from Pleistocene-Holocene
sedimentary sequences in Darjeeling Sub-Himalaya and its palaeoclimatic significance. In: Plant diversity
and resources: Evolution, Analyses, Stress and Challenges and Palaeophytodiversity: Its Aspects and
Prospects” organized by Botanical Society of Bengal in collaboration with Centre of Advanced Study,
Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, pp.80.
4.
Madhab Naskar, Ruby Ghosh and Subir Bera. 2011. Variations of phytolith morphotypes in panicoid
grasses from different phytoecological zones of Sundarbans, India. In: Plant diversity and resources:
Evolution, Analyses, Stress and Challenges and Palaeophytodiversity: Its Aspects and Prospects” organized
by Botanical Society of Bengal in collaboration with Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany,
University of Calcutta, pp.84-85.
5.
Subir Bera, Ashalata D’ Rozario, Ruby Ghosh, Radha Nath Mukhopadhyay. 2011. Record of a possible
Marattiaceous fern from the Indian Lower Gondwana. In: Plant diversity and resources: Evolution,
Analyses, Stress and Challenges and Palaeophytodiversity: Its Aspects and Prospects” organized by
Botanical Society of Bengal in collaboration with Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany,
University of Calcutta, pp. 80- 81.
6.
Madhab Naskar, Ruby Ghosh and Subir Bera. 2009. Diversity of opal A silica in some panicoid grasses from
South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. In: XIX Annual Conference of Indian Association for Angiosperm
Taxonomy and International Seminar on « Angiosperm Systematics & Phylogeny : Retrospects & Prospects
(Organized by National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, pp.154.
7.
Ruby Ghosh, Sudha Gupta, Narayan Chandra Ghorai & Subir Bera. 2008. Recognition of effective
pollinators of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) through palynological analysis. In: XVIII Annual Conference
of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy and International Seminar on " Multidisciplinary
Approaches in Angiosperm Systematics" (Organized by University of Kalyani, West Bengal), pp.220.
8.
Ruby Ghosh & Subir Bera. 2008. Efficacy of grass phytoliths in reconstruction of coastal environment: A
case study from south 24 Parganas, West Bengal. In: XVIII Annual Conference of Indian Association for
Angiosperm Taxonomy and International Seminar on " Multidisciplinary Approaches in Angiosperm
Systematics" (Organized by University of Kalyani, West Bengal), pp.243.
9.
Subir Bera, D. K. Parua, R. Ghosh, M. A. Khan, S. Chakraborty and A. Sarkar. 2008. A sediment-based
reconstruction of Late Quaternary climatic changes in Ziro valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India using pollen
and phytolith proxies. In: 12th International Palynological Congress & 8th International Organisation of
Palaeobotany Conference, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, pp. 24.
10. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera and M. Banerjee. 2008. Phytolith evidences on climatic oscillations and rice
cultivation since ca. 900/1000 years B.C from an archaeological site of deltaic plain of West Bengal, India.
In: 12th International Palynological Congress & 8th International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference,
University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, pp. 91.
11. Ruby Ghosh, M. Ali Khan, B. De and Subir Bera. 2007. Phytoliths in exploring vegetation and environment
dynamics during Late Quaternary : A case study from Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. In : XXI Indian
Colloquium on Micropalaeontology and Stratigraphy, (Organized by Birbal Sahni Institute of
Palaeobotany, Lucknow. pp. 39.
12. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera, Manju Banerjee & Supriyo Chakraborty. 2006. Phytoliths as indicators of
grassland dynamics during the Late Holocene in Gangetic West Bengal. In : Changing Scenario in
Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects, Diamond Jubilee International Conference (Organized by- Birbal Sahni
Institute of Palaeobotay, Lucknow). pp. 43.
13. Ruby Ghosh, Sudha Gupta, Subir Bera, Hong-en-Jiang, Xiao Li and Cheng- Sen Li. 2006. Microscopic
Analysis of ca. 2500 Years Old Cattle dung from Yang-hai Tomb at Xinjiang Province, China with Special
référence to Cattle diet, Palaeovegetation and Palaeoclimate. In : Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and
Allied Subjects, Diamond Jubilee International Conference (Organized by- Birbal Sahni Institute of
Palaeobotay, Lucknow). pp. 44.
14. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera ,Supriyo Chakraborty and Manju Banerjee, 2004. ‘Ancient Phytoliths in
determining the cropping system practiced by the Early Farming Community at archaeological site of
Pakhanna, District Bankura, West Bengal’, by- In: National Conference on Plants, microbes and
Environment: Issues and Challenges (Organized by: Department of Botany, University of Burdwan).
10. Ruby Ghosh, Supriyo Chakraborty, Ashalata D’ Rozario, Subir Bera, Manju Banerjee, 2004. ‘Plant economy
of Early farming community of ca. 3000 years BP at Pakhanna, District Bankura, West Bengal’ In: Eleventh
West Bengal State Science and Technology Congress (Organized by Department of Science and
Technology & Unconventional Energy, West Bengal DST).
11. Ghosh R, Bera S., Chakraborty, S. & Banerjee M. 2004. Record of poaceous phytoliths from an
archaeological site of West Bengal, India. In: Pollen, XI International Palynological Congress [Organized byThe Spanish Palynological Association (APLE), The International Federation of Palynological Societies
(IFPS), The University of Granada, The Zaidin Experimental Research Station (CSIC), Granada]. pp. 266
13. Ruby Ghosh, Subir Bera, Ashalata D’Rozario, Manju Banerjee and Chitrarekha Das Gupta. 2003.‘Records of
Phytoliths and Palynomorphs in the muddy clay layer from Chalcolithic archaeological site of Pakhanna,
District Bankura, West Bengal’. In : XIX Indian Colloquium on Micropalentology And Stratigraphy &
Symposium on Recent Developments in Indian Ocean paleocenography and Paleoclimate (Organized by
Benaras Hindu University & Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, University Grant Commission, Department of Ocean Development, Department of Science &
Technology, National Institute of Oceanography) pp. 6.
14. Manju Banerjee, Ruby Ghosh & A. Ghosh Dastidar. 2002. Palynoassemblage analysis of peat samples from
Bengal Basin, Bangladesh, In: National Conference on Biodiversity – Past and Present (Organized by The
Palaeobotanical Society, Lucknow) pp.6.
SEMINAR / SYMPOSIA / CONFERENCE ATTENDED
Name of the seminars, Conference
Symposia
Name of the sponsoring Agency
Place
Date
Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo, Japan.
August 2330, 2012
Botanical Society of Bengal in collaboration
with Centre of Advanced Study, Department
of Botany, University of Calcutta
Kolkata
December
20-22,
2011
National
Lucknow
Lucknow
November
12-14,
2009
University of Kalyani, West Bengal
West Bengal
11th - 13th
October,
2008
Diamond
Jubilee
International
Conference on “Changing Scenario in
Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects”
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany,
Lucknow
Lucknow, U.P.
15th – 17th
November,
2006
National Conference on Plants,
microbes and Environment: Issues and
Challenges
Department
Burdwan
Burdwan
March
2004
13th
International
Palynological
Congress and
9th
International
Organisation
of
Palaeobotany
Conference 2012,
Plant
diversity
and
resources:
Evolution, Analyses, Stress and
Challenges and Palaeophytodiversity:
Its Aspects and Prospects”
XIX Annual Conference of Indian
Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy
and
International
Seminar
on
« Angiosperm
Systematics
&
Phylogeny : Retrospects & Prospects
XVIII Annual Conference of Indian
Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy
and International Seminar on "
Multidisciplinary
Approaches
in
Angiosperm Systematics"
Botanical
of
Research
Botany,
Institute,
University
of
Eleventh West Bengal State Science
and
Technology
Congress,
By
Department
of
Science
and
Technology & Unconventional Energy,
West Bengal DST
XIX
Indian
Colloquium
on
Micropalentology And Stratigraphy &
Symposium on Recent Developments
in Indian Ocean paleocenography and
Paleoclimate
Dept. of Science and Technology, West
Bengal
Dept. of Geology
Benaras Hindu University & Oil & Natural
Gas Corporation Ltd., Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research, University Grant
Commission,
Department
of
Ocean
Development, Department of Science &
Technology,
National
Institute
of
Oceanography
Kolkata, West Bengal
January,
2004
Benaras
October
2003
MEMBERSHIPS
Member, International Organization of Palaeobotany (IOP)
OTHER QUALIFICATION (S) / CERTIFICATION (S) / PROGRAMME (S) ATTENDED
Trained for computer operation.
Joined the workshop on ‘Electron Microscopes, X-ray Diffractometer and their Applications in Material Science
& Biological Science’ organized by Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Joined the workshop on ‘Bioassays in Plant Cells for the Improvement of Ecosystem and Human health’
organized by Centre for advanced study in Cell & Chromosome Research, Department of Botany, University of
Calcutta (Sponsored by UGC).