C.N.R. Rao
Encyclopedia
Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao, also known as C.N.R. Rao ( (Ciṃtāmaṇi Nāgēśa Rāmacaṃdra Rāva)) (born 30 June 1934, Bangalore
, India
) is an Indian chemist
who has worked mainly in solid-state
and structural chemistry.
two years later, and obtained his PhD in 1958 from Purdue University
. He served as a faculty member in the department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
from 1963 to 1976 and as the director of the Indian Institute of Science
from 1984 to 1994. He has also been a visiting professor at Purdue, the University of Oxford
, the University of Cambridge
and University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founding President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.
Research Professor and Honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, India. He was appointed Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Indian Prime Minister in January 2005, a position which he had occupied earlier during 1985-89. He is also the director of the International Centre for Materials Science (ICMS).
Rao is one of the world's foremost solid state
and materials
chemists. He has contributed to the development of the field over five decades. His work on transition metal oxides has led to basic understanding of novel phenomena and the relationship between materials properties and the structural chemistry of these materials.
Rao was one of the earliest to synthesize two-dimensional oxide materials such as La2CuO4. His work has led to a systematic study of compositionally controlled metal-insulator transitions. Such studies have had a profound impact in application fields such as colossal magneto resistance and high temperature superconductivity
. Oxide semiconductor
s have unusual promise. He has made immense contributions to nanomaterials over the last two decades, besides his work on hybrid materials. He is the author of around 1500 research papers. He has authored and edited 42 books.
Rao serves on the board of the Science Initiative Group
.
by the Royal Society
in 2000, and he became the first recipient of the India Science Award
, instituted by the Government of India, for his contributions to solid state chemistry and materials science, awarded in 2004.
He has won several international prizes and is a member of many of the world's scientific associations, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, the Royal Society (London; FRS, 1982), French Academy, Japanese Academy and the Pontifical Academy.
He was awarded Dan David Prize
in 2005, by the Dan David Foundation, Tel Aviv University
, which he shared with George Whitesides
and Robert Langer. In 2005, he was conferred the title Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by France
, awarded by the French Government. He had also been given the honours Padma Shri
and Padma Vibhushan
by the Indian Government and Karnataka Ratna
by the Karnataka state government. He is a foreign fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science
by the University of Calcutta
in 2004.
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) is an Indian chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
who has worked mainly in solid-state
Solid-state chemistry
Solid-state chemistry, also sometimes referred to as materials chemistry, is the study of the synthesis, structure, and properties of solid phase materials, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively of, non-molecular solids...
and structural chemistry.
Education
Rao obtained his bachelors degree from Mysore University in 1951, obtaining a masters from Banaras Hindu UniversityBanaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
two years later, and obtained his PhD in 1958 from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. He served as a faculty member in the department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is a Central deemed University located in Uttar Pradesh, about 15 km north-west of the city of Kanpur in the Kalyanpur suburb....
from 1963 to 1976 and as the director of the Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909.-History:After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N...
from 1984 to 1994. He has also been a visiting professor at Purdue, the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founding President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.
Profession
Rao is currently the National Research Professor and Linus PaulingLinus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
Research Professor and Honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, India. He was appointed Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Indian Prime Minister in January 2005, a position which he had occupied earlier during 1985-89. He is also the director of the International Centre for Materials Science (ICMS).
Rao is one of the world's foremost solid state
Solid-state chemistry
Solid-state chemistry, also sometimes referred to as materials chemistry, is the study of the synthesis, structure, and properties of solid phase materials, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively of, non-molecular solids...
and materials
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
chemists. He has contributed to the development of the field over five decades. His work on transition metal oxides has led to basic understanding of novel phenomena and the relationship between materials properties and the structural chemistry of these materials.
Rao was one of the earliest to synthesize two-dimensional oxide materials such as La2CuO4. His work has led to a systematic study of compositionally controlled metal-insulator transitions. Such studies have had a profound impact in application fields such as colossal magneto resistance and high temperature superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
. Oxide semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
s have unusual promise. He has made immense contributions to nanomaterials over the last two decades, besides his work on hybrid materials. He is the author of around 1500 research papers. He has authored and edited 42 books.
Rao serves on the board of the Science Initiative Group
Science Initiative Group
The Science Initiative Group is an international team of scientific leaders and supporters dedicated to fostering science in developing countries. SIG was formed to facilitate the Millennium Science Initiative ....
.
Awards
He was awarded the Hughes MedalHughes Medal
The Hughes Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "in recognition of an original discovery in the physical sciences, particularly electricity and magnetism or their applications". Named after David E. Hughes, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1902 to...
by the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 2000, and he became the first recipient of the India Science Award
India Science Award
India Science Award is the second highest national recognition for outstanding contribution in science in India. The award will cover all areas of research in science including engineering, medicine and agriculture. The price carries Rs 25 lakhs cash prize, a citation and a gold medal...
, instituted by the Government of India, for his contributions to solid state chemistry and materials science, awarded in 2004.
He has won several international prizes and is a member of many of the world's scientific associations, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, the Royal Society (London; FRS, 1982), French Academy, Japanese Academy and the Pontifical Academy.
He was awarded Dan David Prize
Dan David Prize
The Dan David Prize annually awards 3 prizes of $1 million each awarded by the Dan David Foundation and Tel Aviv University to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the fields of science, technology, culture or social welfare. There are three prize categories - past, present and...
in 2005, by the Dan David Foundation, Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
, which he shared with George Whitesides
George Whitesides
George Whitesides may refer to:* George M. Whitesides, American chemist* George T. Whitesides, American space scientist and son of the above...
and Robert Langer. In 2005, he was conferred the title Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, awarded by the French Government. He had also been given the honours Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
and Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
by the Indian Government and Karnataka Ratna
Karnataka Ratna
Karnataka Ratna is the highest civilian honour of the State of Karnataka. It is awarded to a person for his extraordinary contribution in any field. It was constituted in the year 1992 by the Government of Karnataka. There have been a total of 8 recipients of this award.- The Award :The Award...
by the Karnataka state government. He is a foreign fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
by the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
in 2004.