Born in Bangalore, India on June 30, 1934, C.N.R. Rao is a renowned scientist. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Science from Mysore University and his Master's degree in Science from Banaras Hindu University. In 1958, he earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University located in the United States.
After completing his Ph.D., C.N.R. Rao returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur as an Assistant Professor. He then went on to work at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, where he served as the Director from 1984 to 1994. He has also held several visiting positions at universities around the world, including at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
C.N.R. Rao's research has focused on a wide range of topics in chemistry, including solid-state and materials chemistry, chemical physics, and nanoscience. He has published over 1600 research papers and authored or edited more than 50 books.
C.N.R. Rao has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1985, he was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, one of the highest scientific honors in India. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan, three of the highest civilian awards in India.
In addition to these awards, C.N.R. Rao has also received several international awards and honors, including the Dan David Prize, the Royal Society of Chemistry's Von Hippel Award, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science.
C.N.R. Rao has also played an important role in promoting science and technology in India. He has been a vocal advocate for increasing funding for scientific research in India and has served on numerous committees and advisory boards related to science and technology policy in India.
