GITAM

September 21, 2018, Hyderabad: GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad will honor Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman during its ninth convocation slated for September 22, 2018. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. N.Siva Prasad informed this in a press release on Thursday (i.e. 20th September 2018) at GITAM, Hyderabad that the honorary degree of Doctor of Science would be conferred on Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman, ISRO and degree of Doctor of Letter to Dr. Aekka Yadagiri Rao, Famous Sculpture and Retired Professor, College of Fine Arts, JNFAU, Hyderabad.

Dr. Sivan will be the Chief Guest and Dr. Yadagiri will be the guest of honor on the occasion and will deliver the Convocation Addresses. Prof. K. Ramakrishna Rao, Hon’ble Chancellor, GITAM University will preside over the function. About 1,017 students will take the degrees, whereas 77 are in-absentia, 940 in-person (Ph.D.-3, MBA-45, M.Tech. 6 and B.Tech. 886) will take the degrees and 10 toppers will receive gold medals.

About Chief Guest

Dr. K. Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 and was inducted into PSLV Project. He is specialized in Aerospace engineering, Space Transportation Systems Engineering, Launch vehicle and mission design, control & guidance design and mission simulation software design, Mission synthesis, simulation, analysis and validation of flight systems.

Sivan

He has significantly contributed to end-to-end mission planning, design, integration, and analysis. His innovative contributions, particularly the strategies adopted in mission design enabled the consistent performance of PSLV. This has also proved to be a good foundation for other launch vehicles of ISRO, like, GSLV MkII & MkIII including RI, V-TD. He is the chief architect of 6D trajectory simulation software, SITARA, which is the backbone of the real-time and non-real-time trajectory simulations of all ISRO launch vehicles. He was responsible for commissioning world-class simulation facility in ISRO for mission, synthesis, and analysis, which is used for mission design, sub-system level validation and integrated validation of avionics systems in all ISRO launch vehicles. He developed and implemented an innovative ‘day-of launch wing biasing strategy’ that enables rocket launch on any day, under varied weather and wind conditions. He was the chief mission architect for the successful launch of 104 satellites in a single mission of PSLV.

About Guest of Honor

Dr. Aekka Yadagiri Rao is one of the pre-eminent Sculptors of 20th Century. His massive stone carvings and welded metal sculptures have put him on the world map of renowned contemporary artists. He is a Sculptor with an International reputation. Prof. Yadagiri Rao received the Padma Award in 2017. He was born in Aliabad, Old City, Hyderabad on 21st July 1938.

Aekka

He has studied B.A. Mathematics in Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1960 and National Diploma Sculpture, College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad in 1967. He served as Professor in College of Fine Arts, JNFAU, Hyderabad and retired in 1999.