From growing up in a rural Indian village to winning a UNESCO Medal, Professor Chennupati Jagadish’s career has been devoted to building knowledge in nanotechnology.
He was recently awarded one of seven UNESCO Medals for contributions to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnologies – the only Australian to be awarded this year.
UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences Director Miguel Clusener-Godt said these scientists and practitioners were pushing back the frontiers of scientific knowledge to transform our lives for the benefit of all.
“Nanoscience and nanotechnology have the potential to foster new developments in science, technology and innovation via the dissemination of new knowledge and applications,” he said.
Professor Jagadish has made important contributions in the field of semiconductor nanotechnology, and established a pioneering research programme in Australia in semiconductor nanotechnology and optoelectronics.
He is the Head of the Semiconductor Optoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group of the Australian National University and the Convenor of the Australian Nanotechnology Network. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering in 2002.