Baldev Raj

Baldev Raj, BE, Ph.D, served the Department of Atomic Energy, India over a 42-year period until 2011. As distinguished scientist and director, Indira Gandhi Centre of Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India (IGCAR), he has advanced several challenging technologies, especially those related to the fast breeder test reactor and the prototype fast breeder reactor. Dr. Raj pioneered the application of nondestructive examination (NDE) for basic research using acoustic and electromagnetic techniques in a variety of materials and components. He is also responsible for realizing societal applications of NDE in areas related to cultural heritage and medical diagnosis. He is the author of more than 970 refereed publications, 70 books, and special journal volumes, and more than 20 contributions to encyclopedias and handbooks, as well as the owner of 29 patents. He is immediate past president, International Institute of Welding and President, Indian National Academy of Engineering. He assumed responsibilities as the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India in September 2014. He is a fellow of all science and engineering academies in India; member of the German Academy of Sciences; honorary member of the International Medical Sciences Academy; member of the International Nuclear Energy Academy; vice president, nondestructive testing, Academia International; and president-elect of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences.P. Chellapandi, BE (Hons.), M.Tech., Ph.D, is currently a distinguished scientist and director of the Reactor Design Group at the IGCAR. He specializes in reactor design, thermal hydraulics, structural mechanics, safety analysis, and experimental simulations. He is one of the key persons involved in the design and development activities of the 500 MWe prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) since its inception. He has contributed significantly for the PFBR over a w