Meghnath Dhimal

Biography

Dr. Meghnath Dhimal started his career as an Environmental Health Research Officer in 2005 and has been working as a Chief/Senior Research Officer since 2010 at the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Government of Nepal.   He completed his PhD in Geo-sciences (Environmental Health Sciences) from the Goethe University in 2015, and his Master Degree in Environmental Sciences from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 2004. For his PhD studies, he received a German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) scholarship. After the completion of his PhD study, he  also worked a Guest Scientist at the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany from 2016-2018.
Achieving both practical and theoretical advances in environmental and public health research, Meghnath has led research projects on environmental and climate change, non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, burden of diseases and health systems research in Nepal. Recognizing his contribution in the field of climate change and health, he was awarded with the “Young Scientists Award of the Year 2015” by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in 2015. He also received the Nepal Bidhyabhushan “Ka” Award of the Year 2016 by Rt. Hon President of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2016. He is a Member of the Research Committee, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu (2016-2020); Member of the Global Young Academy (2017-2022); an Expert Member of Public Health and WASH Thematic Group of National Adaption Plan formulation Process, Ministry of Health, Government of Nepal (Since 2016), Member of Steering Committee on Urban Health Initiative (Since 2018) and Member of Steering Committee of INGSA-Asia. Beside these, he is Associate Academician at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology  and founder coordinator of Young Scientist Forum Nepal. He has made substantial contributions to developing environmental health and climate change programmes and policies. In Nepal examples include health sector implementation plans and strategies, NAPA, LAPA, PPCR, Climate Change Policy 2011, H-NAP  development in Nepal, Maldives and Timor-Leste.
Meghnath has also served the World Health Organization (WHO) in the capacity of Temporary Adviser as well as in the capacity of Climate Change and Health Expert.  He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed journal papers, essays, technical reports and articles in the popular press. His research is featured in numerous scientific and media outlets including the Science Daily and Medical Xpress. His research interests include climate change and health, environmental and  public health,  global health, neglected tropical diseases, non-communicable diseases and social determinant of health.

Awards