2nd January 2015 Dr. Vasant Govarikar ISRO Head Died

Images for vasant gowarikarReport images
More images for vasant gowarikar

Vasant Gowarikar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vasant Gowarikar
Born	25 March 1933 Pune, British India
Died	2 January 2015 (aged 81) Pune, India
Nationality	Indian
Fields	Science
Notable awards	Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan

Vasant Ranchhod Gowarikar (25 March 1933 – 2 January 2015) was an Indian scientist. He was the chief of Indian Space Research Organizationand also the scientific advisor to the Prime Minister of India in 1991-1993. Gowarikar made valuable contributions to the fields of space research, weather and population. He was well known for his monsoon forecast model.^[1]^[2]

[hide]

EARLY LIFE[EDIT]

Govarikar was born in Pune, India on 25 March 1933 in a Brahmin family. After his schooling and graduation fromKolhapur district in Western Maharashtra, he embarked on his scientific odyssey to England in the early 1950s. He obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering, supervised by Dr. F.H. Garner. His collaboration resulted in the Garner-Gowarikar theory, which was a novel analysis of heat and mass transfer between solids and fluid.^[3]

CAREER[EDIT]

He had worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation. Gowarikar was involved in space research in early career under Vikram Sarabhai when his office was in the building of the local St Mary Magdalene Church in Thumba in Kerala. He pioneered solid propellant development and later served as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) between 1979 and 1985.

Gowarikar also served as the scientific advisor to Prime Minister of India P.V. Narasimha Rao from 1991 to 1993. He had also been the Secretary of Department of Science and Technology.

He was appointed as Vice-Chancellor, Pune University and was chairman of the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad between 1994 and 2000. Gowarikar, along with his associates, also compiled The Fertilizer Encyclopedia (2008) that featured 4,500 entries detailing the chemical composition of fertilizers, and containing information on everything from their manufacturing and application to their economic and environmental considerations.

AWARDS[EDIT]

Gowarikar was awarded Padma Shri in 1984 and Padma Bhushan in 2008. He also received the Fie Foundation Award.^[4]

DEATH[EDIT]

Gowarikar died on 2 January 2015 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, India following dengue and urinary tract infections.^[5]^[6]^[7]

REFERENCES[EDIT]

Jump up^ Dr. Vasant Gowarikar
Jump up^ Former ISRO chief V R Gowarikar dies in Pune
Jump up^ Vasant Gowarikar
Jump up^ Awards
Jump up^ Scientist Vasant Gowarikar passes away
Jump up^ Former ISRO chief V R Gowarikar dies in Pune
Jump up^ Scientist Vasant Gowarikar no more

Scientist Vasant Gowarikar passes away

The Hindu‎ - 2 days ago

Space veteran and eminent scientist Vasant Gowarikar passed away after a brief illness at the city's Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, aged 81.

Scientist Vasant Gowarikar no more

Times of India‎ - 3 days ago

Vasant Gowariker, man behind Indian monsoon model, dead

Daily News & Analysis‎ - 2 days ago

More news for vasant gowarikar

Dr Vasant Gowarikar - Maharashtra NavNirman Sena

www.manase.org › ... › Personalities › Scientists and Philosophers

Dr. Vasant Gowarikar A prominent scientist who made valuable contributions to the fields of space research, weather and population. Birth: 25 March, 1933.