Our Speakers

Dr. Swati Nayak
Dr. Swati Nayak, is a renowned expert and distinguished international scientist in agricultural innovation and sustainable farming, currently working with International Rice Research Institute headquartered at Manila, Phillipines. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Science, a Master's in Rural Management, and a PhD in evaluating modern extension approaches and on-farm trialing of varieties. Dr. Nayak is currently the IRRI South Asia’s Lead for Seed System and Product Management, enhancing breeding impact and delivering genetic gain in farmer fields. Additionally, she serves as the Global Lead for the Rice and Cereal Seed System group under CGIAR's Global research initiative , Seed Equal. With 15 years of experience, Dr. Nayak has pioneered gender-inclusive, socially equitable agricultural innovations, earning the prestigious Norman E. Borlaug Field Award for 2023 from World Food Prize Foundation. Her work is instrumental in promoting sustainable, climate-smart agriculture worldwide.

Prof. Bedangadas Mohanty
Prof. Bedangadas Mohanty is a distinguished Indian physicist affiliated with the School of Physical Sciences at the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar. His research centres around experimental High Energy Physics. He has made significant contributions to the discovery of the Quark Gluon Plasma and its properties, the discovery of the heaviest known anti-particle, anti-alpha and the understanding of the phases of matter governed by strong interactions. He has led two international collaborations of scientists and engineers as Deputy Spokesperson of the STAR experiment at RHIC, BNL, USA and the ALICE experiment at LHC, CERN. Prof. Mohanty's contributions to his field have won him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the Infosys Prize in physical sciences. He is also a fellow of the American Physical Society, a fellow of all the three science academies in India and a J. C. Bose National Fellow of DST, Govt. of India.

Prof. Sudhir Krishna
Prof. Sudhir Krishna is a Professor Emeritus at The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology
(TDU) and a highly esteemed scientist with ongoing work at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in
Bangalore, India. He leads a research group focused on three main areas: the genetic diversity of dengue in India
and the development of nucleic acid-based vaccines, the progression of human cervical cancer, and the establishment
of a biology-medicine interphase program. His team has investigated the genetic variations of dengue viruses across
India, resulting in the development of DNA and mRNA-based vaccines. In the realm of cervical cancer, they have
uncovered a specific subset of CD66+ cells involved in cancer progression, particularly emphasizing the role of the
Notch signalling pathway.
Additionally, Professor Krishna has been instrumental in creating a collaborative
platform that bridges biology and medicine. This initiative, developed in collaboration with institutions such as
St. John’s Medical College, focuses on areas like haematology, gene editing, and HLA typing. His work not only
advances research in these fields but also fosters interdisciplinary education, integrating aspects of basic
science, public health, and beyond to innovate biomedical education and research.

Prof. Pratap Kumar Mohanty
Prof. Pratap Kumar Mohanty is a luminary in the realm of marine sciences, having had a career spanning over 35 years
in academia. He currently holds a pivotal role as the OSD-cum-Vice Chancellor, Dharanidhar University and a Member
of the Appellate Authority within the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department of the Government of
Odisha.
Prof. Mohanty's scholarly journey is adorned with numerous accolades, including a prestigious
Commonwealth Fellowship in the UK, where he conducted pioneering research at the University of Reading. His
intellectual footprint spans more than 130 publications, encompassing pivotal contributions to atmospheric and
ocean sciences. Notably, he has spearheaded critical research in monsoon studies, coastal processes, climate change
impacts, and water quality prediction, shaping discourse in these crucial domains.
Beyond his academic pursuits,
Prof. Mohanty has served in influential capacities, organizing international conferences and contributing to national
environmental management and clean energy committees. His steadfast commitment to advancing scientific knowledge is
underscored by his memberships in esteemed organizations such as the Indian Meteorological Society and the Ocean Society
of India.

Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das
Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das is the Director of the Space Science Programme at ISRO Headquarters, where he oversees all
scientific activities and their progress within ISRO and the Department of Space. His responsibilities include
managing space science missions such as Chandrayaan-1, 2, and 3, the Mars Orbiter Mission, AstroSat, Aditya L1,
XPoSat, and other future missions.
With over two decades of experience, Dr. Das has a diverse background in
launch vehicle integration and testing, HF Phased Array Radar, scientific payload development for planetary
exploration platforms, and the formulation of space-borne experiments for planetary missions. He has been involved
in all ISRO space science missions since Chandrayaan-1, contributing to both scientific formulation and mission
operations.
His expertise particularly lies in space-borne neutral mass spectrometry, with significant
contributions to the study of the neutral exospheres of the Moon and Mars. In addition to his technical and
scientific roles, Dr. Das has played a key role in the development of disruptive technologies for the Indian Space
Programme and is actively engaged in international cooperation with global space agencies.
Currently, Dr.
Das focuses on formulating ISRO's space science program, building the scientific community, and fostering
collaboration with academic institutions across India. He is also a science communicator and an author of both
scientific and fictional works.

Dr. Vasudevan Gnana Gandhi
Dr. Vasudevan Gnana Gandhi is an Indian rocket scientist renowned as the pioneer of cryogenic rocket science in India.
He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, and began
his career with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1968. Over the years, he has held various key
positions at ISRO, including Project Director and Programme Director.
Dr. Gandhi's notable contributions include his work on developing booster liquid stages for the Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and enhancing the VIKAS engine, both critical components in India's space program.
His pioneering efforts in cryogenic technology have been fundamental to ISRO's advancements in space exploration.
Dr. Gandhi has received the prestigious Aeronautical Society of India Award for his contributions to aerospace. In
2005, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian award.
Dr. Vasudevan Gnana Gandhi currently serves as Senior Vice President of Propulsion at Skyroot Aerospace in Hyderabad.
He also holds the position of Chief Academic Advisor, continuing to influence the next generation of rocket
scientists and engineers.
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