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Ashwani Kumar Tiwari is working as an Assistant Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. He is the Chair of the MCAA Research Funding Working Group. His teaching and research areas are hydrogeochemistry, contamination of water resources by geogenic and anthropogenic activities, groundwater-seawater interaction, mining, water resource management and GIS. Tiwari was a postdoctoral researcher at Politecnico di Torino (Turin, Italy). He was awarded Erasmus Mundus and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellowships.
How does it feel to win the award?
At the MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly 2025 in Kraków, Poland, as Chair of the Research Funding Working Group (RFWG), I received the Working Group Award, which was both exciting and rewarding. This recognition emphasises the value of collaboration, creativity, and dedication. It encourages me to continue pursuing excellence. It is a team achievement rather than an individual one. This award is dedicated to all RFWG members and all of my MCAA and non-MCAA collaborators. As Chair of the RFWG, I would like to thank the members of the Working Group and my MCAA and non-MCAA collaborators for their full support and the award selection committee for encouragement.
Ashwani Kumar Tiwari
What journey led you to this award?
In my opinion, every outcome is the culmination of the hard work of numerous individuals, including family members, friends, mentors and collaborators. The continuous encouragement and feedback from the active members of the RFWG, the previous Chair of the Working Group, the MCAA Executive Director and the MCAA Board helped me to contribute to the MCAA community.
Furthermore, I thank the MCAA Management team, the Chairs of other Chapters and Working Groups with whom the RFWG collaborated at several events, my colleagues, speakers, and other institutions/ organisations for their full support to the RFWG to successfully organise several events on European research funding opportunities.
A joint brainstorming session organised by the MCAA-RFWG. The event was attended by 104 researchers from India, Nepal, Europe, and Latin America, as well as various institutions.
How will this award propel you in your future endeavours?
Research is a unique segment in science or any stream, and the best utilisation and collaboration of our ideas with others could improve and enhance our way of thinking towards a statement of the problem. Receiving this esteemed honour will undoubtedly boost my motivation, credibility, and future growth and success prospects. Also, it increases my responsibilities to contribute more to the MCAA community in future.
What are your future goals?
My plan as the Chair of the RFWG is to raise awareness among and encourage non- European (e.g., African, Latin American and Asian) researchers to learn more about European funding opportunities, including the MSCA, and to apply for the same to enhance their careers.
What advice do you have for the MCAA?
Since I took charge as the Chair of the RFWG, I have had several meetings with some brilliant minds in the MCAA community, and I have learnt a lot about new ideas in science and society and improved my skills. As an MCAA member, enhancing your skills and contributing to science and society are always win-win situations. Hence, my simple advice is this: be happy and available to contribute and collaborate with the MCAA community in whatever capacity you can.
Is there anything else you wish to share with the community?
I would again like to thank the MCAA community, which felicitated RFWG and with that me with this prestigious award. Whatever we do should be helpful to society. Our small contribution will help build a flourishing future for the MCAA community. I thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me to contribute to the MCAA community. The credit goes to all of them.
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