The faculty and students of the department are engaged in research in diverse subject areas. Some teachers in the department are also involved in collaborative research programs with scientists from other national and international universities/institutes. The major areas of research in the department are:

• Fluvial and Flood Geomorphology

• Tropical Geomorphology

• Badland Geomorphology

• Anthropo-geomorphology

• Monsoon and Agro-climatology

• Urban climatology

• Tourism Geography

• Youth Population

• Planning for rural and urban settlement

• Globalization and cultural transformation

• Environmental Geography

• Agricultural Geography & Industrial Geography

The department is well-known internationally for its research in the field of geomorphology. Research in geomorphology is focused on fluvial landforms and processes, gully erosion, tectonic geomorphology, palaeoclimate reconstruction and environmental change in monsoon-dominated areas. The research is quantitatively based and emphasizes measurement. In recent years, stereo images and DGPS have been employed for high-resolution terrain mapping. In the field of climatology, the focus is on extreme events, droughts and long-term trends in temperature and rainfall. Studies have been able to bring out changes in the land surface temperature of Pune and the changing monsoon patterns in the last century. Research interests of the faculty in human geography are in the fields of youth migration, urban development and industrialization of Pune city, interrelation of economic activity and geographical space and its resources. Tourism has also been the focus of geographical analysis in the department. Use of GIS and RS to analyze human and physical phenomena and processes has grown considerably in the last ten years.

Over the years the faculty has produced a number of books, monographs and research papers. During the last decade over 110 research papers have been published by the faculty in various research journals, including over 35 papers in impact factor journals. More than a dozen students were awarded Ph.D. in the last ten years.

Sponsored Research Projects

The department to its credit has undertaken several major research projects sponsored by Indian funding agencies such as UGC, DST, ISRO, ICSSR, CPCB, etc. and overseas funding agencies such as European Commission. In the last ten years, twelve research projects were completed. The number of ongoing projects is five. In addition, the faculty is engaged in several projects funded by BCUD, University of Pune. Some of the faculty members are also involved in consultancy projects.

The Department has been recognized as a FIST sponsored department by DST, New Delhi. The department has also received special grants from ISRO and UGC (under Innovative Program) for strengthening the infra-structural facilities.