Himanshu Kulkarni

Himanshu Kulkarni has led ACWADAM, a not-for-profit knowledge institution and think-tank on groundwater since 1998. He is a hydrogeologist by qualification and has been working on aquifers and groundwater across India’s diverse groundwater typology for more than 35 years. ACWADAM has partnered with a variety of organizations on piloting and mainstreaming the ideas of participatory groundwater management and springshed development across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Vietnam and has begun work in Africa. Under him, ACWADAM’s work has followed brought communities closer to their aquifers, managing groundwater as a common pool resource. Before co-founding ACWADAM, Dr Kulkami worked at Pune University for 13 years and then in the corporate sector. He continues to teach, guide and mentor students while also publishing his work. He has supervised two PhDs and many MSc dissertations. He has held many advisory positions on Indian Government committees. He is currently a member of the committee which is drafting India’s new National Water Policy. Through ACWADAM, he has steered the concept of hydrogeology-based springshed management that has now become so important from the local to national level.