Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Padma Shree awardee is a visionary in the fields of Science and Technology. He has made exceptional contribution to nanosciences, nanotechnology, nanocomposites, soft matter, micro/nano-mechanics, colloid and interfacial engineering etc. He is currently serving as the President of Indian National Science Academy. In the past he also served as the Institute Chair Professor and INAE Visvesvarya Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1982. He further pursued his passion for knowledge and obtained a master’s degree in the same subject from The Pennsylvania State University in 1984 and earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo in 1987.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma’s pioneering work in understanding the behavior of thin films and other highly confined nano-scale systems earned him the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award in engineering sciences. Other awards, honours include Infosys Prize in Engineering and Computer Science, the TWAS Science Prize, the Humboldt Foundation’s Bessel Research Award, the Homi J. Bhabha Award for Applied Sciences, etc. and many more. Over 350 peer-reviewed papers and more than 15 patents are result of his creative research, dedication towards advancing science and technology.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Prof Sharma has held important leadership positions. He served as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology (DST) from 2015 to 2021. During this tenure, he initiated several programs aimed at advancing India’s scientific and technical landscape, including those that focused on infrastructure, innovation, R&D, industry-academia cooperation, and international collaborations.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma’s visionary leadership and extensive experience in nano sciences and nanotechnology will undoubtedly guide and inspire in driving positive change and fostering impactful research initiatives.