Rao honored in Taiwan

A world-renowned expert on solid-state and structural chemistry Dr. Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao FRS, also known as C.N.R. Rao, received an honorary doctoral degree from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, on January 18.
The degree was conferred on Dr. Rao in recognition of his contributions to solid-state and structural chemistry, educational achievements as well as his excellent personality.
Upon receiving the honorary doctorate degree from NCKU President Huey-Jen Jenny Su, Dr. Rao expressed his appreciation and praised the university’s efforts at advocating materials science research.
“This is a very top university in Taiwan and I’m very happy to be part of it. I hope this will increase collaboration between NCKU and our institutes in India,” said Dr. Rao who is currently the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.
He is also the founder of Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bangalore. He has nearly 50 doctorates besides 1500 research papers and is the authors of over 40 books.
“I came from India. We have International Center for Materials Science in Bangalore. Bangalore is said to be the science city of India and also known as the IT capital of the world. There are 4 hundred thousand IT workers in Bangalore. But I’m not proud of that. I’m very proud of the science city of India,” Dr, Rao said in the conferring ceremony.
He also said, “Taiwan is one of the very big centers not only for science but for technology innovation. India is not very good at innovation, but India is very good at science. This can be a very good collaboration.”
Dr. Rao has been a visiting professor at top universities, including Purdue, Oxford and Cambridge.
“The 21 century is an Asian century,” said Dr. Rao, “I believe Taiwan, Japan, and India can work together for the future of Asia.”
“I will do everything possible to help NCKU and Taiwan,” he added.
Dr. Rao’s research interests are solid-state and structural chemistry, transition metal oxides and other extended inorganic solids, inorganic-organic hybrid materials and nanomaterials.
His other major professional interests are science education and direct contact programs with school children. fii-news.com