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Meha Jain bags inaugural Arizona State Science Prize
She was honored for her climate-focused agriculture research.
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Anushka Pathak - Tue, 10, Feb 2026
- 15:12 EST
- 15
Meha Jain / Courtesy: University of Michigan
Indian-origin researcher Meha Jain was awarded the inaugural Arizona State University–Science Prize for Transformational Impact for her work linking climate science, agriculture, and data-driven policy.
The prize is a joint initiative of Arizona State University (ASU) and the journal 'Science,' published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and recognizes early-career researchers whose use-inspired research delivers measurable societal impact.
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An associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, Jain was recognized for research that combines satellite imagery, machine learning, and on-ground observations to study how smallholder farmers adapt to climate stress, including erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.
Her work documents shifts in irrigation practices, planting schedules, cropping patterns, and land use, while also identifying environmental costs such as groundwater depletion in intensively farmed regions, particularly in India.
The prize citation highlights Jain’s approach of integrating remote sensing with direct engagement with farmers to scale local insights and inform policy-relevant tools. Her ongoing work includes developing smartphone-based applications that provide satellite-derived guidance on irrigation timing, crop selection, and climate risk, aimed at extending precision agriculture to underserved regions.
Reflecting on her approach, Jain said, “Most of my research questions are informed by what we or our collaborators see on the ground. Having that real-world interaction is incredibly motivating.” She added, “What really struck me was that this wasn’t a knowledge gap. Farmers understood the long-term consequences of using groundwater for irrigation. It was the circumstances they were in that left them with few alternatives.”
Jain also emphasized the importance of applied outcomes, saying, “I became more excited about creating data products that could actually be used,” and noted the need to plan ahead. “We can start to think more proactively about sustainable management strategies for the future.” Offering advice to researchers, she said, “Follow what motivates you. Don’t worry so much about what you think will be a high-impact paper. Work on the problems that make you want to show up every day.”
The ASU-Science Prize for Transformational Impact includes a US$30,000 grand prize and publication of a winning essay in 'Science.'
A Princeton University graduate, Jain earned a PhD in ecology and environmental biology from Columbia University, followed by postdoctoral research at Stanford University. She joined the University of Michigan in 2016 as an assistant professor and was later promoted to associate professor. Her research has been shaped by extensive fieldwork in rural India.
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