Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has produced some of the brightest minds who have been pioneers and trailblazers in many industries. With their steadfast resolve, boundless passion, and a knack for a keen eye and a dash of creativity, they have come up with innovations that opened up new horizons for the new generations to explore and conquer. We’ve handpicked some famous alumni and featured their awards, achievements and accolades.
| Name | Sreedhara Panicker Somanath |
| Date of Birth | July, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Thuravoor, Cherthala, Kerala, India |
| Schooling Pre – University | St. Augustine’s High School Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam |
| UG | B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering |
| PG | M.Tech., Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science |
| PhD | Indian Institute of Technology, Madras |
| Roles/Office | 10th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (Incumbent) Former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (24 January 2018 – 14 January 2022) Former Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (1 January 2015 – 23 January 2018) |
| Awards & Honors | Space Gold Medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) Performance Excellence Award-2014 and Team Excellence Award-2014 for GSLV Mk-III realization from ISRO Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.), Uttarakhand Technical University K.P.P Nambiar Award |
| Name | Sudha Murty |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | Shiggaon, Haveri, Karnataka |
| Schooling | NA |
| UG | B.E., Electrical and Electronics Engineering, B.V.B College of Engineering and Technology |
| PG | M.E., Computer Science Engineering Indian Institute of Science |
| Roles/Office | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Incumbent) Founder, Infosys Foundation |
| Awards & Honors | Padma Shri (2006) Daane Chintamani Attimabbe Award Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2023) Padma Bhushan (2023) |
| Notable Works | Mahashweta (2000) Dollar Bahu (2003) How I Taught My Grandmother to Read (2004) |
| Name | Ritu Karidhal Srivastava |
| Date of Birth | April 13, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Schooling | St. Anjani’s Public School |
| UG | B.Sc., Physics, University of Lucknow |
| PG | Masters in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| Roles/Office | Mission Director, Chandrayaan 2 Deputy Operations Director, Mangalyaan |
| Awards & Honors | D.Sc by University of Lucknow (2019) ISRO Young Scientist Award (2007) U.P Gaurav Samman (2024) |
| Name | Rajagopala Chidambaram |
| Date of Birth | November 11, 1936 |
| Place of Birth | Madras, Madras Province, British India (present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Schooling | Not Available |
| UG | B.Sc., Physics, Madras University |
| PG | M.Sc., Physics, Madras University |
| PhD | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| Roles/Office | 2nd Principal Adviser to the Government of India (2002-2018) |
| Known For | Smiling Buddha (Pokhran – 1)Operation Shakti (Pokhran – 2) |
| Awards & Honors | Padma Shri (1975) C.V. Raman Birth Centenary Award (1995) Distinguished Materials Scientist of the Year Award of the Materials Research Society of India (1996) R.D. Birla Award of the Indian Physics Association (1996) Padma Vibhushan (1999) |
| Name | Sivan Kailasavadivu |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Mela Sarakkalvilai, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India |
| UG | B.Sc., Madurai University B.Tech., Aeronautical Engineering, Madras Institute of Technology |
| PG | M.E., Aeronautical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| PhD | Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay |
| Roles/Office | 9th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (15 January 2018 – 14 January 2022) 12th Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (2 June 2015 – 14 January 2018) Former Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (2 July 2014 – 1 June 2015) |
| Awards & Honors | Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Award, 2019 IEEE Simon Ramo Medal shared with Byrana N.Suresh, 2020 |
| Name | Harihar Gundurao Dattatreya |
| Date of Birth | April 20, 1942 |
| Place of Birth | Chitradurga, Kingdom of Mysore |
| Schooling | Not Available |
| UG | B.Tech., Electrical Engineering, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVSC) |
| PG | M.Tech. Electrical Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| Roles/Office | Indian Air Force (1965 – 1986) Actor (1988 – ) |
| Known For | Aasphota (1988) Munnudi (2000) Mouni (2003) Bettada Jeeva (2011) Bharath Stores (2012) |
| Awards/Honors | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor – Aasphota (1988) National Film Award for Best Actor – Munnudi (2000) Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor – Munnudi (2000) National Film Award – Special Jury Award – Mouni (2003) Rajyotsava Prashasti (2024) |
| Name | Vijay Kumar Saraswat |
| Date of Birth | May 25, 1945 |
| Place of Birth | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Schooling | Not Available |
| UG | B.E., Madhav Institute of Technology, Gwalior |
| PG | M.E., Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| Roles/Office | Former Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Former Director General of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Member of NITI Aayog |
| Known For | Development of Prithvi Missile and its induction in the Indian Armed Forces |
| Awards/Honors | Padma Shri (1998) Padma Bhushan (2013) Aryabhata Award (2011) |
These are some of the notable alumni produced by the IISc. Since its inception in 1909, this famous institute has consistently contributed to the country by bringing out the best in its students. IISc will keep bringing out the best in its students and take pride in it for many years.
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