 After his master's in India, Dr. Gowariker qualified for the award of the master's and doctorate degrees in Chemical Engg of Birmingham University, England on its post-grad research scholarship. He worked for the (British) Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell as a senior scientist, and later at Summerfield Research Station of the (British) Ministry of Aviation. In a highly classified work place engaged in the production of rocket motors for the British Armed Forces, he was the only foreigner and was among the four persons invited to make a long term service agreement which required the employee to give a six months' notice if he were to leave the company. Some of his scientific work is available as priced publications in Her Majesty's Stationary Offices. He was on the Outside Panel of Examiners of the Oxford and Cambridge Examination Board and on the External Editorial Staff of Pergamon Press, Oxford where he helped in editing several scientific books.
2. Dr Gowariker joined the space centre at Thumba (Trivandrum) in 1967 as Propellant Engineer, became Head, Propellant Engineering Division, then Director of the Chemicals and Materials Group and, in 1979 Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) -- ISRO's largest (and the Country's second largest scientific) establishment, set-up for developing advanced rockets and launch vehicles. The SLV-3 project, which put India's first satellite into orbit with her own rocket, was successfully completed during his directorship of the VSSC.
3. Dr. Gowariker, who provided professional leadership to making the critical solid fuel technology for India's advanced rocketry totally indigenous and of world class, is popularly known as the father of ISRO's Solid Propellant Technology. He set up Polymer Complex, Propellant Fuel Complex, Ammonium Perchlorate Plant and Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (over 5,500 acres of land) where ISRO produces its large solid propellant motors. All strategic raw materials are researched, developed and produced in various plants established under his stewardship or by industry under ISRO's know-how. He, as the Head of VSSC, along with his colleagues, helped in advancing India's rocket technology to the world-class.
4. From 1986 to 1991, Dr Gowariker was Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology (DST), and from 1991 to 1993, S & T Adviser to the Prime Minster—in all working directly under four successive Prime Ministers. He led the team for developing the new Monsoon model for long range monsoon forecast, which during 1988 to 2000 fairly accurately forecast the season's total rainfall for the country as a whole. The research papers arising from this work are studied in some universities abroad and are considered as a major contribution to the understanding of the monsoon forecasting capability.
5. Science popularization movement gained further momentum through three instrumentalities initiated by Dr Gowariker as Secretary, DST. He initiated, with the approved of the Prime Minister, the National Science Day which gets enthusiastically celebrated since 1988 all across the country on 28 February. He was the Founder President of the “National Children's Science Congress” which he guided for several years and is today a national event with children's participation from all over the country. He was the Founder President of the NCSTC Network--a joint group comprising All India Radio, Doordarshan, and over 50 NGOS (such as Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad etc) to spread the message of science in the country.
6. Dr Gowariker worked as Chairman/Member of Research Councils or Scientific Advisory Councils connected with institutions or ministries dealing with Petroleum, Defence, Ordnance Factories, S & T, IITs, Indian Institute of Science, Indian Science Congress Association etc. He was a member of the high powered body to work out details of IIT in Assam, and of a two member committee for the appointment of its first Director.
7. Dr Gowariker was General President of the 79 th Indian Science Congress. His book based on the focal theme of his Presidential Address: Science, Population and Development , and its subsequent versions are widely reviewed, critiqued and acclaimed world-over. He was a member of the Committee appointed under the direction of the Parliament to prepare a draft of the National Population Policy . In 1993, the Govt of India asked him to have "A Relook at Fertilizers". He was the Vice Chancellor of Pune University (1995-1998).
8. Dr Gowariker is a fellow of almost all scientific academies: Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore), National Academy of Science (Allahabad), National Academy of Engineering (New Delhi), an Honorary Fellow of the Meteorological Society of India, of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications and Fellow of Astronautical Society of India. He is a Ph D guide and has worked on the Search Committees for many Vice Chancellors. He is the recipient of the Institution of Engineers' National Design Award, the M S University's Dr. K G Naik Gold Medal, the FIE Foundation Award, the 1989 Award of the Indian Society for Technical Education, Indian Science Congress Association's G P Chatterjee Award, the Honorary Doctorates of IIT, Roorkee and of the Universities of Jabalpur, Indore, and of Shivaji University, Padma Shri and the National Citizens Award 1991 at the hands of the President of India.
9. Dr Gowariker is currently Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Sugar Technology Mission; Member of the Eminent Scientists' Consultative Group; President, National Organising Committee for 2004: Year of Scientific Awareness-all appointed by the Government of India. He is currently preparing a Fertilizer Encyclopedia, of which he is the Chief Editor and Professor Satish Dhawan Distinguished Professor, ISRO. Apart from this, he is also involved in many scientific and educational institutions.
10. With over 200 scientific papers, publications, books etc. Dr Gowariker's research, educational, professional, and people oriented national career spans over 40 years. Many of his scientific papers are referred to in text books and periodicals.
Dr Gowariker's
Birth date : 25/03/1933
Birth place : Pune
Residential address: 5, Shriram Apts, 1126/A Model Colony, Pune 411 016
(Tel: 020-25653244) |