December 3, 2003

Chairman of ISRO, Mr G Madhavan Nair, has been conferred the Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) by the Punjab Technical University. The honour was conferred on Mr Madhavan Nair at a special convocation of the University held on December 2, 2003 at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar. The convocation was presided by the Governor of Punjab, and Chancellor Punjab Technical University, Justice Om Prakash Verma. Chairman of All India Council for Technology Education, Dr R Natarajan, delivered the Convocation Address.

Mr Madhavan Nair, who is a leading technologist in the field of rocket systems, took over as Chairman, ISRO, Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space, on September 01, 2003. Joining ISRO at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), Thiruvananthapuram, in 1967, he has made significant contributions to the development of multistage satellite launch vehicles for the Indian space programme. He was the Project Director of India's first operational launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). He also contributed to the indigenous development of cryogenic technology and setting up the vital infrastructure to develop the technology.