WASHINGTON, Oct 25:The highest scientific honours in the nation were given to two Indian-American scientists, Ashok Gadgil and Subra Suresh, by US President Joe Biden in recognition of their contributions to science and technology. Gadgil, a distinguished professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley, received the prestigious White House national medal for technology and innovation from Biden on Tuesday in recognition of his work providing communities all over the world with resources necessary for survival.The award, which is given to top US innovators, honours people who have improved America’s competitiveness, quality of life, and workforce in technology while also fostering national innovation. Suresh, an at-large professor at Brown University’s engineering department, won the National Medal of Science for his innovative work in the physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering. He was especially recognised for his contributions to the field of material science research and its interdisciplinary applications.Gadgil received the White House National Medal for Technology and Innovation, one of twelve awardees. Gadgil has created low-cost solutions for some of the most difficult issues facing the developing world, such as energy-efficient stoves, safe drinking water technology, and methods for lowering the cost of effective electric lighting. He concentrates on reliable ideas that may be used as broadly as feasible; taken as a whole, his efforts have benefited over 100 million people. In addition, Gadgil specialises in computational fluid dynamics of indoor air and pollution flows, as well as building energy efficiency.Gadgil received the award, according to the White House, “for providing life-sustaining resources to communities around the world.” His low-cost, inventive innovations address many pressing requirements, such as fuel-efficient cookstoves and drinking water. His artistic endeavours stem from his conviction in the worth of every individual and our capacity to address the most pressing issues of our day. Berkeley Lab researchers have now won two national medals for technology and innovation in addition to Gadgil’s 17th overall national medal.“There is injustice in the world. I strive to apply my understanding of science, engineering, and creativity to lessen the injustice experienced by those who are disadvantaged. In an interview with Barkley Lab, Gadgil stated, “I think that’s fantastic if I can make that difference, go even a little bit in that direction.” Gadgil received his PhD from UC Berkeley, his degrees in physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and the University of Bombay (now Mumbai). He then became an affiliate retiree of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) after joining the organisation in 1980 and retiring as a faculty senior scientist earlier this year.Prior to the creation of the Energy technology Area (ETA), he was the division director of the environmental energy technology division. In addition, he teaches civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley as a distinguished professor emeritus. In its announcement, the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation praised Suresh for his dedication to international research and teamwork, demonstrating how science can foster mutual understanding and national cooperation.According to a Brown University statement, Suresh expressed his satisfaction with the award, saying he is especially proud of what the medal represents. Along with eight other recipients, Suresh, the former director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), received the coveted science medal. Suresh, who was born in 1956 in India, completed his high school education at the age of 15, then went on to acquire his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering in just two years from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.In 1983, Suresh joined the engineering faculty at Brown University, where he was the youngest member. Following his ten years at Brown, Suresh accepted a nomination from then-President Barack Obama to become the 13th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), making history as the first Asian-born American to hold such a position. In commemoration of him, Brown’s School of Engineering established earlier this month a biennial symposium centred on the boundaries of technology and society. He will return to the school in September 2023. Under his direction, NSF established the Global Research Council, a virtual association of chiefs of funding agencies for science and engineering from over 50 nations, with the goal of promoting international cooperation and data exchange.In addition, he led the creation of the Center-Life Balance programme, which aims to raise the proportion of women holding doctorates in science and engineering from 26% to 40% between 2011 and 2021.
