V. Balakrishnan (physicist)

Infobox_Scientist
name = Venkataraman Balakrishnan


caption =
birth_date = 1943
birth_place =
residence = India
nationality = Indian
field = Physics
work_institution = TIFR
IIT Madras
alma_mater = Brandeis University
doctoral_advisor =
doctoral_students =
known_for =
prizes =
religion =
footnotes =

V. Balakrishnan (b. 1943 as "Venkataraman Balakrishnan") is an Indian theoretical physicist who has worked in a number of areas including dynamical systems, stochastic processes, quantum dynamics, and the mechanical behavior of solids. Dr. Balakrishnan received his PhD from Brandeis University. He then worked as a research scientist at TIFR and Kalpakkam's IGCAR, before joining IIT Madras as a Professor of Physics in 1980. He was briefly a Professor Emeritus at IIT Madras and has currently been re-employed as a Professor. He was elected [http://www.ias.ac.in/php/fell_detail.php3?name=Balakrishnan&intials=Venkataraman&year=16-12-1943 Fellow] of the Indian Academy of Sciences for his research contributions. He is an accomplished educator and lecturer of Physics, and is known for an engaging teaching style.

Prof. Balakrishnan has authored several books. He co-authored (with G. Venkataraman and D. Sahoo) the book titled [http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Crystalline-State-Perspective-Solid-State/dp/0387191100/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217395593&sr=1-18 Beyond the Crystalline State: An Emerging Perspective] which was published in April 1989 by Springer in the "Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences". His most recent book (published March 2008) titled [http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Nonequilibrium-Statistical-Mechanics-Balakrishnan/dp/1420074199/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217395459&sr=8-1 Elements of Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics] has been published by CRC Press.

Prof. Balakrishnan supports and reiterates in his lectures that India or any nation needs pure sciences or theoretical sciences as much as applied science or engineering/technology for national progress. In his lectures, he is often found adding a component of humor or sarcasm by critiquing the policies and procedures of Indian educational and government system in general, while teaching Physics in a thought-provoking style.

His son, Hari Balakrishnan, is also a renowned academic, currently a Professor of Computer Science at MIT. His daughter, Hamsa Balakrishnan, is also on the faculty at MIT as an Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

External links

* [http://hsb.iitm.ac.in/~vbalki/ Balakrishnan's home page]