Dr. Thirumalachari Ramasami | |
---|---|
Indian Science & Technology Secretary | |
In office May 2006 –5 May 2014 | |
Personal details | |
Born | April 15, 1948 |
Occupation | Scientist |
Awards | Padma Shri 2001 Padma Bhushan 2014 |
Thirumalachari Ramasami is a former Indian Science and Technology Secretary. He assumed charge in May 2006. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Director of the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India. He is a distinguished researcher and leather scientist. [1] He was awarded India's National Civilian Honour the Padma Shri for excellence in Science and Engineering in 2001 [2] and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. [3] He was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, [4] the highest award for science in India, for notable and outstanding research in Chemical Sciences in 1993.
He graduated in Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) from G.S. Hindu High School, Srivilliputtur in 1963,[ citation needed ] Pre-University from St.Joseph's College, Trichy in 1964,[ citation needed ] Bachelor and Master of Technology in Leather Technology from the University of Madras in 1969 and 1972, respectively with first rank and Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of Leeds, [5] England in January 1976.
He carried out post-doctoral research in energy at the Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University USA during 1978–80 [4] and on electron transport phenomena at Wayne State University, Detroit, USA [4] during 1981–83. He was a visiting Fellow at University of Newcastle upon Tyne during 1983–84.[ citation needed ]
He holds 37 patents of which 12 have been commercialised. He has authored more than 220 research publications, eight chapters in books, and numerous general articles.
He came back to India in 1984 and joined as an assistant Director of the Central Leather Research Institute, the world's largest leather research institute.(He said in an interview to RSTV (programme name is "Eureka") that one's achievements should be socially recognised and this can be well achieved on your motherland.) As Director of CLRI, he prepared a vision document for CLRI – CLRI Vision 2005, directed the Leather Technology Mission with 170 projects in 17 states of India,[ citation needed ] reengineering CLRI, new models for development and measures for collective decision making. Led CLRI in providing cleaner tanning technology options for a group of 764 tanneries in a record time of 12 months.[ citation needed ] Led the Indian initiative in forecasting colours for Modeurop [6] Congress gaining India, a niche status in the fashion world. India is now preparing the shade card for the world. [ citation needed ] Galvanized and led CLRI in a growth path since 1996 in the capacity as Director. Prepared a vision, mission and action document for leading the growth of CLRI and gaining for India global leadership in leather by way of original publications, IPR generation and technologies delivered. He helped CLRI register a meaningful outcome on Indian Leather Sector during 1996–2004. Dramatic increases in outputs of CLRI have been registered during the Directorship since 1996. [4]
Ramasami assumed the role of Secretary, Science & Technology in the Government of India since May 2006. [4] The department has sought a fifth extension for him which something that is considered rare at his level in the central government. [7] The department of science and technology bid farewell to its secretary, Dr T Ramasami on May 5, 2014 after he superannuated at the age of 66 years. During his eight years stint at the DST, Dr Ramasami was instrumental in its budget increase that jumped several-fold and launch of many new programs. He was also holding the additional charges as the director general, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). [8]
Some of the Honors, awards and recognitions that have come his way include:
Udupi Ramachandra Rao was an Indian space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He was also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and Nehru Planetarium at Bengaluru and chancellor of the Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram. He is known as "The Satellite Man of India". He pioneered India's first satellite launch Aryabhata in 1975.
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Central Leather Research Institute or CLRI is the world's largest leather research institute in terms of research papers and patents. The institute located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu was founded on 24 April 1948 as a constituent laboratory under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Sarvagya Singh Katiyar FRSC popularly known as S. S. Katiyar, was an Indian scientist specializing in enzymology, and the founder Director of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow. He is a former president of the Association of Indian Universities and a former vice chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur and Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology. He was honoured by the Government of India in 2003 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award, followed by Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 2009.
Vakkaleri Narayana Rao was an Indian defence scientist and one of the pioneers of Electronic Warfare in India. He was a former director of the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1982.
Ramadas Panemangalore Shenoy was an Indian defence scientist and writer, known for his contributions in the field of Radar technology. He secured a doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and joined Defence Research and Development Organization in 1961, involving himself with the indigenous development of Radar technology till his retirement, as a Distinguished Scientist, in 1989.
Paranandi Venkata Suryanarayana Rao is an Indian computer scientist, known for his researches in the fields of speech and script recognition and is credited with contributions for the development of TIFRAC, the first indigenously developed electronic computer in India. He is a recipient of awards such as IEEE Third Millenium Medal, Vikram Sarabhai Award, Om Prakash Bhasin Award and VASVIK Industrial Research Award. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1987.
Alla Venkata Rama Rao is an Indian inventor and chemist, known for his pioneering researches in the field of drug technology. He is the founder of the A. V. Rama Rao Research Foundation, a non governmental organization promoting research and doctoral studies in chemistry and Avra Laboratories, an organization dealing in intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients, used in therapeutics. An elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India, and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Rama Rao is a recipient of several awards such as TWAS Technology Award, VASVIK Industrial Research Award and Om Prakash Bhasin Award. The Government of India awarded him Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2016.
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Sukh Dev FNA, FASc is an Indian organic chemist, academic, researcher and writer, known for his contributions in the development of Guggulsterone, a plant-derived steroid used as a therapeutic and nutritional agent. He has conducted advanced research in biomedical science and natural products chemistry and holds 55 patents for his findings.
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Jhillu Singh Yadav is an Indian organic chemist and the co-founder of the Indo-French Joint Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry at Interfaces (JLSCI), jointly established by the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and the University of Rennes 1. He is a former director of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and is known for his studies on organic syntheses of allylic and acetylenic alcohols and spiroacetals. He is an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences National Academy of Sciences, India, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and The World Academy of Sciences. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, in 1991, for his contributions to chemical sciences.
Rajinder Kumar is an Indian chemical engineer and a former professor at the Indian Institute of Science. He is known for his studies on multiphase phenomena and is an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, and the Indian National Academy of Engineering. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Engineering Sciences in 1976. He received the third highest Indian civilian award of the Padma Bhushan in 2003. He is also a recipient of Om Prakash Bhasin Award and the VASVIK Industrial Research Award.
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Palanisamy Thanikaivelan is a leather technologist and material scientist. He joined the Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai, India in 2002 and currently working as the Chief Scientist. In 2006, he won the Young Scientist and Young Engineer Awards from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian National Academy of Engineering for his work on innovative and cleaner zero discharge tanning methods. He is a Young Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences and Indian National Academy of Engineering.