M.Sc., M.Phil, PhD, D.Sc.,Dip.Hr.Education
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Ismail is currently a member of State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu. He is also the Task force member, State Planning Commission, Chattisgarh Government; and Chairman for the Reconstituted High Level Expert Technical Committee – Hydrocarbon Project, Tamil Nadu Government; and Former Director of the Ecoscience Research Foundation, Chennai. He has been recently nominated as President of the Gandhi Ashram, Thiruchengode. He was the Head of the Department of Zoology and later the Department of Biotechnology, The New College, Chennai.
He has been associated with several farmers and self-help groups, ardently promoting concepts of ecology, sustainability, organic farming, waste management and waste water treatment among many other areas of concern.
He works with the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India in the development of a module on Vermicomposting as a sustainable ecological practice for children. He conducts projects for schools to implement vermicomposting and delivers lectures to schools both in India as well as abroad on environmental awareness, solid waste management and vermicomposting. He is currently working with the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) in an effort to promote awareness of organic farming, Vermitech (a term developed by him) and waste management to educational institutions and organic farmers of Malaysia.
Dr. Ismail has done extensive work (both research and applied) on earthworms and organic inputs since 1978. His other research interests are on the anti-inflammatory properties of earthworms and the electrical bioluminescence of earthworms.
His ‘The Earthworm Book’ along with many other books he has authored, is popular among both academics and students. He has published more than 65 papers in international and national journals.
Dr. Ismail has been decorated with numerous awards including the CASTME award for 1994–95 in the UK, the “Arignar Anna Award” by the Department of Environment of the Government of Tamil Nadu for 2005, the “Award of Excellence” presented by His Excellency Governor of Jharkhand in Dec 2010, the “Special Contribution Award for outstanding contribution to earthworm industry” at the 1st World Earthworm Industry Forum in China, June 2018.