K. Radhakrishnan (scientist)

K. Radhakrishnan
Born	29 August 1949 (1949-08-29) (age 62) Irinjalakuda, Thrissur
Residence	India
Nationality	Indian
Fields	Electrical Engineering and Space research
Institutions	VSSC
Alma mater	IIT Kharagpur (Ph.D., 2000) IIM Bangalore (PGDM, 1976) Govt Engg College Thrissur (B.Sc. Engg., 1970)
Known for	Chandrayaan Mission

K. Radhakrishnan (born 29 August 1949) is an Indian scientist and the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).^[1] He also served as the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram. He was born in Kerala, India. He is a Life Fellow of the Indian Geophysical Union and is also an accomplished vocalist (Carnatic music) and Kathakali artist.^[2]

Radhakrishnan took charge as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 31 October 2009.^[3] He succeeds Dr. G. Madhavan Nair who retired at the end of October, 2009.

Education and career

Radhakrishnan hails from Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district. He received his B.Sc.(Engineering) degree in Electrical Engineering in 1970 from the Government Engineering College, Thrissur, University of Kerala[1] . He started his career in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as an Avionics Engineer at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, in 1971. While at ISRO, he joined the Masters programme in Management at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. He received his MBA degree in 1976. In 2000, he obtained his Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He has held several key positions in ISRO and was one of the key people behind India's Chandrayaan-1 moon mission.^[2]

After the retirement of G. Madhavan Nair, Radhakrishan who was heading the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at that time, succeeded Nair as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and Secretary in the Department of Space, Government Of India.

Other interests

Radhakrishnan is a Carnatic Music enthusiast. He himself has given vocal stage performances.^[4]

Positions held

• Director - RRSSC (Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres) under the umbrella of National Natural Resources Management System (1989–1997).
• Director - BEA-ISRO (Budget and Economic Analysis) (1987–1997).
• Director - National Mission Director - Integrated Mission for sustainable Development and a Deputy Director of the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) (1997–2000).^[5]
• Founding Director - Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Department of Ocean Development, Govt. of India (2000–2005)^[5]
• Project Director - Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm Surges (2000–2005)^[5]
• Vice Chairman - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO (2001–2005)^[5]
• Founding Chairman - Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS) (2001–2006)^[5]
• Regional Coordinator - Indian Ocean for the International Argo Project (2001–2005)^[5]
• Director, National Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space (2005–2008)^[6]
• Member of the Indian delegation to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (2006)^[5]
• Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruvanathapuram, India (2007–2009)^[6]

Organization Membership

• Hon Life Fellow Institution of Engineers(India)
• President of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (2005–2007)
• Vice President of Indian Geophysical Union (2007–2009)
• Member of the International Academy of Astronautics
• Member of the Space Commission
• Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering
• Fellow of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing
• Fellow of the Systems Society of India
• Fellow of the Indian Geophysical Union
• Fellow of the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences

^[6]

Awards

• Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award of Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences (2009)
• BHASKARA Award of Indian Society of Remote Sensing (2008)
• Silver Jubilee Honour by Ministry of Earth Sciences (2006)
• VASVIK Industrial Research Award in the field of Electrical and Electronics Sciences and Technology (2005)
• K. R. Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal of Indian Geophysical union (2003)
• Honarary Life Fellow The Institution of Engineers(India) (2010)
• Hon Life Fellow Instution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers , New Delhi (2010)

^[6]

See also

• Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization

References

1. ^ "ISRO gets a new chairman". Deccan Herald. 2009-10-25. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/32322/isro-gets-chairman.html. Retrieved 2009-10-25. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Dr K Radhakrishnan made ISRO chief". Hindustan Times. 2009-10-24. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Dr-K-Radhakrishnan-made-ISRO-chief/H1-Article1-468883.aspx#. Retrieved 2009-10-24. 
3. ^ "Dr. K. Radhakrishnan made ISRO chief". Press Trust of India. http://www.ptinews.com/news/346110_Dr-K-Radhakrishnan-made-ISRO-chief#. Retrieved 2009-10-24. 
4. ^ "ISRO chief sings a different note". The New Indian Express. 2011-09-02. http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/isro-chief-sings-a-different-note/309943.html. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Faculty profile from the University Hyderabad. Retrieved 11/30/2009
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Press Release from ISRO October 31, 2009. Retrieved 11/30/2009

External links

• VSSC
• University of Hyderabad
• INCOIS
• ISRO Page on Chairman K. Radhakrishnan

Government offices
Preceded by G. Madhavan Nair	ISRO Chairman 2009 –	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Radhakrishnan, K.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1949-08-29
Place of birth	Kerala, India
Date of death
Place of death