Speaking volumes of the dedicated efforts of the faculty and staff of the V.S. Krishna Degree College in inspiring its students to excel in their chosen careers an alumnus of the college has been selected for the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Sciences for 2014.
Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Ramakrishna Prasad Kavirayani graduated with Chemistry Major from V.S. Krishna College in 1989. “Incidentally, ours was the last batch with a major at the degree level. The Andhra University which was known for its high level of academic standards was a source of inspiration for us to go for Masters,” he recalls.
Not only we were allowed to access the library but the faculty of the Andhra University used to talk to us notwithstanding the fact that we were not the students of the university. Access to both helped me a lot in my formative years in getting interested in my subject and go for research, Prof Prasad told The Hindu.
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is given away annually by the Council of Science and Industrial Research for most notable and outstanding research by Indians under the age of 45. Prof Prasad was selected for the Prize for the year 2014 for his work in total synthesis of natural products of therapeutic significance and their evaluation as potential anti-cancer compounds. He has developed original and innovative synthetic pathways for the synthesis of complex natural products.
“Unfortunately, students do not appear to show in research. There is a need to encourage more students to take up original research and awards like these are good to aspire for,” he said expressing happiness on his selection. While the prize was announced on CSIR Foundation Day on September 26, it is scheduled to be given away by the Prime Minister along with the prizes for year 2012 and 2013.
Professor Prasad is scheduled to visit the city on December 23, to address students of Class XI under INSPIRE internship programme at the Andhra University.
