BENGALURU: One of India's most renowned nuclear scientists, Prof Baldev Raj, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), passed away while attending a conference in Pune on Saturday.
A recipient of Padma Shri, Prof Raj took over as Director of NIAS, in 2014. He led the Institute to new heights in terms of multi-disciplinary pursuits, and brought the Institute closer to the government and decision making processes. An eminent scientist, Prof Raj was former Director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, and helped advance several challenging technologies, in particular those related to the fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) and the prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR). He nurtured excellent schools of global stature in nuclear materials and mechanics, non-destructive evaluation, nanoscience and technology, robotics and automation. He contributed substantially to the interdisciplinary domains of energy, cultural heritage, medical technologies, nanoscience and technology and education.
He was responsible for providing solutions to many unsolved problems in strategic and security sectors.
Author of around 1000 academic papers in peer reviewed journals and more than 70 books, Prof Raj's brilliance was recognized by the more than 100 awards hae was given, and his many top-notch assignments in more than 30 countries.
His other awards included the Life Time Achievement Award of the Indian Nuclear Society, the Homi Bhabha Gold Medal and the Nayudamma Memorial Award. A member of the Circle of Advisors, Cambridge University, and a member of the Search Group for the Queen Elizabeth Prize in Engineering, Prof Raj was also a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and the World Academy of Sciences. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Gandhinagar, a member of the Court of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Prof Raj mentored hundreds of students, scientists and technologists, inspiring them to pursue high levels of professionalism in science and technology without losing sight of the need for exemplary ethical practices.
