Science Education Evangelist

Dr. C.N.R. Rao, the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and president of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, is one of India's most prominent scientists. Known for his persistent advocacy for science education and the development of the country’s research capabilities, Rao has often highlighted the alarming trend of arts, science, and commerce colleges shutting down their science faculties and the neglect of research in IITs, which he fears are turning into ordinary engineering colleges.

A frequent contributor to EducationWorld, Rao recently authored a widely praised column urging the Central and state governments to prioritize increasing university faculty salaries significantly to attract top talent to academia.

Rao, an alumnus of Mysore, Benares Hindu, and Purdue universities, began his illustrious career as a professor of chemistry at IIT-Kanpur and eventually became the director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1984-94). Currently, this tireless septuagenarian serves as a visiting professor at Purdue, Oxford, and Cambridge universities and is recognized globally as a leading authority on solid-state and materials chemistry. #cnrrao #scienceeducation #evangelist #1984-94 #educationworld #education #chemistry