Who is Maitri?

I am a geoscientist with many interests including scientific data visualization, science education, blogging, photo journalism, languages and the public domain. Made in Kuwait of Indian parts, I now live and work in New Orleans following many years in the Upper Midwest.

What is VatulNet?

VatulNet is where I write about my aforementioned interests and any advancements I have made in these areas. This site is based on the principle of "I gather information and disperse it, therefore I am."

Since Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood that almost destroyed New Orleans, my blog has been the most communicative and, thus, important aspect of this site. Maitri's VatulBlog is part of an online network of concerned citizens and civic activists known as the New Orleans Bloggers. In addition, I have guest-blogged at Sepia Mutiny and First Draft.

Research

At present, I am an oil-industry geophysicist. My work involves the quantitative and qualitative geophysical interpretation of 3D seismic data for Gulf of Mexico oilfield development as well as 3D subsurface data visualization.

With a background in structural geology [paper], borehole geophysics, programming and application development, I am most interested in the development of 3D interpretation environments for data from the shallow subsurface and upper crust of the earth.

What Else Do You Do?

A strong supporter of reading, eBooks and the public domain, I am a good friend and advisor to Project Gutenberg, the Internet's oldest publisher of electronic books.

In addition, I serve as a member of the alumni board of the University of Wisconsin's Department of Geology and Geophysics and am the president of the New Orleans chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

As a lover of culture, color and costume, I am active in Krewe du Vieux, Krewe de C.R.A.P.S., Krewe of King Arthur and the Mystic Krewe of Chartreuse.

Contact

maitri.vr@gmail.com
GTalk: maitri.vr
Twitter: maitri

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What Does Vatul Mean Anyway?

Vatul is my clan name. Vatula Maharishi, the progenitor of my line, was a Hindu sage reportedly prone to great distraction. Vatul (Sanskrit) means “enlightened, lashed by the wind to the point of losing one’s sanity, god’s madcap, detached from the world, and seeker of truth.” The terms Vatul and Baul are applied to mystics, originally Hindu and Sufi-Muslim respectively, who dedicated their lives to the quest for spiritual harmony and experience.