Three young scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have been chosen for the first batch of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Young Associates. Surendra Kumar Makineni, Ved Vivek Datar, and Awadhesh Narayan were selected for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Makineni is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering at IISc, where he has developed lightweight cobalt-base superalloys for high-temperature applications. He also uses microscopy techniques to study engineering alloys. His work has been recognized for its innovative use of materials and engineering principles to solve practical problems.
Datar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at IISc, where his research in differential geometry of Kahler manifolds and their connections with mathematical physics and complex algebraic geometry has made significant contributions to the field. His work has been recognized for its rigorous mathematical analysis and its applications in various areas of science and technology.
Narayan is an Assistant Professor at the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit at IISc, where he has made important contributions to the field of quantum theory of materials. His work has been recognized for its novel approach to understanding the behavior of matter at a quantum level, which has important implications for developing new materials and technologies.
The selection criteria for INSA’s Young Associates program are based on scientific or technological contributions that have significant potential to impact India’s development in these areas. The candidates were evaluated based on their research achievements, publications, patents, scientific reports, and economic impact.
As part of their recognition as Young Associates, each candidate will receive a one-time travel grant worth Rs 50,000 towards attending international conferences within two years starting from January 1st