Roddam narasimha
Encyclopedia
Roddam Narasimha is an Indian aerospace scientist and fluid dynamicist. He was the chairman of the Engineering Mechanics Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research JNCASR, India
. He concurrently holds the Pratt & Whitney chair in science and engineering at the University of Hyderabad
.
(UVCE), Indian Institute of Science
in Bangalore
, and obtained his PhD
degree at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech), United States
in 1961.
He joined the Indian Institute of Science
(IISc) in 1962 and was associated with the department of aerospace engineering in various capacities from that date till 1999. In 1982, he founded the centre for atmospheric sciences (now centre for atmospheric and oceanic sciences), which he headed till 1989. During 1984 to 1993 he was the director of the NAL
. For many years since 1983 he held a visiting position at Caltech, as Clark B Millikan Professor or Sherman Fairchild distinguished scholar. Between 1989 and 1990 he was Jawaharlal Nehru professor of engineering at Cambridge University in England
. He had also held visiting positions at NASA Langley, University of Strathclyde
, University of Brussels, and Adelaide University. From 1990 to 1994 he was INSA
golden jubilee research professor, and from 1994 to 1999 the ISRO K. R. Ramanathan
distinguished professor at IISc and JNCASR. He was the director of the NIAS
during 1997-2004.
Narasimha’s research has been chiefly concerned with aerospace fluid dynamics and certain related problems in the atmosphere.
He has made extensive studies of transitions between laminar and turbulent flow (going in either direction), the structure of shock waves, various characteristics of fully developed turbulent flow (e.g. their memory, the bursting phenomenon in boundary layers), the fluid dynamics of clouds, near-surface temperature distributions and eddy fluxes in atmospheric boundary layers. He has been closely associated with aerospace technology development in India at both technical and policy-making levels. During 1977-79, he was the Chief Project Coordinator in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
As Director of NAL he initiated and oversaw several major technology programmes. He served on the Board of Directors of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
for several years. As a member of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
’s Scientific Advisory Council he was instrumental in establishing a major parallel computing initiative in the country. He was President of the Indian Academy of Sciences
during 1992 till 1994 and spear-headed a new programme on university education in science, leading to the establishment of the journal Resonance and other Academy programmes involving teachers and students. He has served on the National Security Advisory Board and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister Cabinet. He is currently a member of the Space Commission, and co-chairs the Joint Steering Committee and the Joint Scientific Working Group for the Indo-French atmospheric research satellite Megha-Tropiques
.
As Director of NIAS Narasimha initiated a series of major dialogues on international security issues with the US National Academy of Sciences and other bodies, and pursued his interests in the history of science and technology.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Foreign Associate of both the US National Academy of Engineering
and the US National Academy of Sciences
. He is also an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
. In India his distinctions include the Bhatnagar Prize, the Gujarmal Modi Award and the Padma Bhushan
, among many others. He is a Fellow of all the national academies of science and engineering, and an Honorary Fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India
. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of both Caltech and IISc. He has delivered numerous invited lectures at various international conferences. In 2000 he won the Fluid Dynamics Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
.
He is the author of more than 200 research publications
and fifteen books.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He concurrently holds the Pratt & Whitney chair in science and engineering at the University of Hyderabad
University of Hyderabad
The University of Hyderabad is a post-graduate teaching and research institute in India. It was established by an act of the Parliament in 1974 as a Central University. The university also offers courses under distance learning programs...
.
Education and career
He was educated at University Visvesvaraya College of EngineeringUniversity Visvesvaraya College of Engineering
The University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, popularly known as UVCE, is an engineering college affiliated to Bangalore University, located in Bangalore, India. The college was established in 1917, by Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The college is approved by the AICTE and the Government...
(UVCE), Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909.-History:After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N...
in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, and obtained his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech), United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1961.
He joined the Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909.-History:After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N...
(IISc) in 1962 and was associated with the department of aerospace engineering in various capacities from that date till 1999. In 1982, he founded the centre for atmospheric sciences (now centre for atmospheric and oceanic sciences), which he headed till 1989. During 1984 to 1993 he was the director of the NAL
National Aerospace Laboratories
National Aerospace Laboratories , is India's second largest aerospace firm after Hindustan Aeronautics . It was established by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at Delhi in 1959 and its headquarters was later moved to Bangalore in 1960...
. For many years since 1983 he held a visiting position at Caltech, as Clark B Millikan Professor or Sherman Fairchild distinguished scholar. Between 1989 and 1990 he was Jawaharlal Nehru professor of engineering at Cambridge University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He had also held visiting positions at NASA Langley, University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, University of Brussels, and Adelaide University. From 1990 to 1994 he was INSA
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...
golden jubilee research professor, and from 1994 to 1999 the ISRO K. R. Ramanathan
K. R. Ramanathan
Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan was an Indian physicist and meteorologist. He was the first Director of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Ramanathan was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1965 and Padma Vibhushan in 1976....
distinguished professor at IISc and JNCASR. He was the director of the NIAS
National Institute of Advanced Studies
The National Institute of Advanced Studies , is a research institute in India.It is one of the unique institutions in the country conducting research in multidisciplinary areas....
during 1997-2004.
Narasimha’s research has been chiefly concerned with aerospace fluid dynamics and certain related problems in the atmosphere.
He has made extensive studies of transitions between laminar and turbulent flow (going in either direction), the structure of shock waves, various characteristics of fully developed turbulent flow (e.g. their memory, the bursting phenomenon in boundary layers), the fluid dynamics of clouds, near-surface temperature distributions and eddy fluxes in atmospheric boundary layers. He has been closely associated with aerospace technology development in India at both technical and policy-making levels. During 1977-79, he was the Chief Project Coordinator in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
As Director of NAL he initiated and oversaw several major technology programmes. He served on the Board of Directors of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited based in Bangalore, India, is one of Asia's largest aerospace companies. Under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence, this state-owned company is mainly involved in aerospace industry, which includes manufacturing and assembling aircraft, navigation and...
for several years. As a member of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
’s Scientific Advisory Council he was instrumental in establishing a major parallel computing initiative in the country. He was President of the Indian Academy of Sciences
Indian Academy of Sciences
The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
during 1992 till 1994 and spear-headed a new programme on university education in science, leading to the establishment of the journal Resonance and other Academy programmes involving teachers and students. He has served on the National Security Advisory Board and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister Cabinet. He is currently a member of the Space Commission, and co-chairs the Joint Steering Committee and the Joint Scientific Working Group for the Indo-French atmospheric research satellite Megha-Tropiques
Megha-Tropiques Mission
Megha-Tropiques is a satellite mission to study the water cycle in the tropical atmosphere in the context of climate change A collaborative effort between Indian Space Research Organisation and French Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales , Megha-Tropiques was successfully deployed into orbit by...
.
As Director of NIAS Narasimha initiated a series of major dialogues on international security issues with the US National Academy of Sciences and other bodies, and pursued his interests in the history of science and technology.
Honours
He has been widely honoured for his research work as well as his scientific leadership. In 2008 he was awarded the Trieste Science Prize at $50,000 given out by the TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world (http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081217/pdf/456860a.pdf).He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Foreign Associate of both the US National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
and the US National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He is also an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
. In India his distinctions include the Bhatnagar Prize, the Gujarmal Modi Award and the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, among many others. He is a Fellow of all the national academies of science and engineering, and an Honorary Fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India
Aeronautical Society of India
Aeronautical Society of India is the principal Society in India serving the professions in areas of aeronautics, aerospace and aviation. Its stated primary purpose is to "advance the sciences, engineering, technology and management of aerospace, aeronautics and aviation and to foster and promote...
. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of both Caltech and IISc. He has delivered numerous invited lectures at various international conferences. In 2000 he won the Fluid Dynamics Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
.
He is the author of more than 200 research publications
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
and fifteen books.