Y S Rajan

Y. S. Rajan is a physicist by training. He has made key contributions to space research, technology and applications since 1964 and continues to be an expert on space matters. As scientific secretary, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), he was responsible for a combination of scientific, technical, administrative, planning, policy and international cooperation matters from 1976 to 1988. Since then, he has held various other positions of responsibility related to science and technology, and academia. He was vice-chancellor, Punjab Technology University from 2002-04. Rajan has written on a variety of subjects, including science, technology, business, youth, leadership, social and ethical issues, and several poetry books in Tamil and English. He co-wrote the books India 2020 and The Scientific Indian with A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Rajan is currently Dr Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor at ISRO Headquarters in Bangalore.