Professor Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao stands as a preeminent figure in global materials science, with a distinguished career spanning over six decades of groundbreaking research and institution building. He currently serves as the Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, an institution he founded in 1989 to advance interdisciplinary scientific inquiry. His academic journey began with an M.Sc. from Banaras Hindu University in 1953 followed by a Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1958, establishing the foundation for his remarkable scientific trajectory. Professor Rao's leadership extended to the Indian Institute of Science where he established India's first dedicated Solid State and Structural Chemistry unit in 1976 and subsequently served as Director from 1984 to 1994, transforming the institution through strategic development of critical infrastructure and research funding.
Professor Rao's pioneering contributions to solid state chemistry and materials science have yielded over 1,650 scientific papers and 50 books, with his work cited more than 123,000 times according to Google Scholar, reflecting extraordinary global impact. His early synthesis of two-dimensional oxide materials such as La2CuO4 enabled systematic studies of compositionally controlled metal-insulator transitions, fundamentally advancing understanding of colossal magneto resistance and high-temperature superconductivity phenomena. His investigations into transition metal oxides have provided foundational knowledge for numerous applications in electronics and energy technologies, revealing critical relationships between materials properties and structural chemistry. Professor Rao's prolific and sustained contributions across five decades have established him as a world authority whose work continues to shape the direction of materials research worldwide.
Beyond his laboratory achievements, Professor Rao has played a pivotal role in establishing premier research institutions that have elevated India's position in global science, including founding the International Centre for Materials Science in 2008. His leadership extended to national science policy as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Indian Prime Minister across two terms and to global scientific governance as President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Professor Rao has fostered numerous international collaborations and academic exchanges, building a global network of scientific cooperation that continues to thrive under his influence. Today, he remains an active researcher at JNCASR, mentoring young scientists and advancing the frontiers of materials chemistry while demonstrating how sustained intellectual curiosity and visionary leadership can transform both scientific understanding and institutional capabilities.
