Image Courtesy: Polymer Processing Society

Prof. Ashok Misra, former Director of IIT Bombay, has been honoured with the prestigious PPS Fellows Award for 2024 by the Polymer Processing Society (PPS). This award recognizes his exceptional contributions to polymer science and engineering, as well as his distinguished career spanning over four decades as an engineer, scientist, and educator. As Director of IIT Bombay, Prof. Misra played a crucial role in elevating the Institute’s status as a premier R&D hub while maintaining its excellence in engineering education.

He currently serves as a Distinguished Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. He was also the Head of the Centre for Polymer Science & Engineering and Dean of Alumni Affairs & International Programmes at IIT Delhi. Prof. Misra’s illustrious career includes pivotal roles that have extended beyond academia, including Chairman (India) at Intellectual Ventures, and Senior Research Polymer Scientist at Monsanto Chemical Company.

His research contributions are extensive, with 70 research papers in international journals and six patents to his name. His expertise spans various areas, including engineering polymers, polymer blends, fibre-reinforced composites, and polymer product design.

Prof. Misra’s professional affiliations reflect his standing in the scientific community. He is a Senior Member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, a Member and International Representative of the Polymer Processing Society, a Member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of North America, and a Fellow and Life Member of the Society of Polymer Science, India.

In addition to his research and teaching, Prof. Misra has co-authored the book “Relationship of Material Properties to Structure and Estimation of Polymer Properties” with Don J. David, and he is currently working on a second book titled “Polymer Processing Analysis.”

Prof. Misra’s contributions have been widely recognized. He received the Prof. M Santappa Silver Jubilee Award from the Society for Polymer Science, India, in 1991 for outstanding research and leadership in polymer science. In 1995, he was named a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, and in 1999, he was elected Visiting Fellow Commoner at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK.

The PPS Fellows Award is a testament to Prof. Misra’s enduring impact on the field of polymer science and his unwavering dedication to advancing technical education in India. His tenure at IIT Bombay coincided with a period of significant growth and transformation, with the Institute fostering an environment that enabled pioneering research and innovation. Prof. Misra’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists, highlighting the profound relationship between visionary leaders and the supportive institutions that cultivate their success.