Conversation with Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Akhlesh Lakhtakia is a distinguished Evan Pugh University Professor and Charles Godfrey Binder Professor within the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Pennsylvania State University : https://sites.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/

As per Penn state webite, he (recently) served as an expert consultant for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, as chair of the U.S.-India Higher Education Partnerships Committee and as a Jefferson Science Fellow (his term ended recently).

With over four decades of academic excellence, Lakhtakia is renowned for his pioneering research in complex material electromagnetics, particularly sculptured thin films, chiral materials, and biomimetic applications. His interdisciplinary approach to innovation is evident in his extensive body of work, which includes authorship of numerous books such as “Biologically Inspired Design: A Primer” and “Theory of Graded-Bandgap Thin-Film Solar Cells.” Lakhtakia’s contributions have had a far-reaching impact across various disciplines, including optics, electronics, and forensic science. His work has been widely recognized, reflecting the significance of his research and its implications for diverse fields. As a leading figure in his field, Lakhtakia continues to inspire and influence the next generation of researchers and scholars.

In this episode we discuss his journey from Lucknow to Pennsylvania, scholarship, writing process, life as an academic and his recent efforts to build Indo-U.S. relations in higher education.

Listen, as we humanize science.

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References :

  1. “Akhlesh Lakhtakia.” 2023. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akhlesh_Lakhtakia&oldid=1169384975.
  2. Website: Accessed February 17, 2024. https://sites.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/.
  3. “Akhlesh Lakhtakia – Evan Pugh University Professor – Penn State University | LinkedIn.” n.d. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhlesh-lakhtakia-767556109.
  4. “‪Akhlesh Lakhtakia – ‪Google Scholar.” n.d. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=wC7o_VAAAAAJ&hl=en.
  5. “Biologically Inspired Design: A Primer | SpringerLink.” n.d. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-02091-9.
  6. “Craig Bohren.” 2023. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Craig_Bohren&oldid=1192250085.
  7. “Jefferson Science Fellow – Lakhtakia Bio.” n.d. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Jefferson/PGA_377438.
  8. Lakhtakia, Akhlesh. 2013. “So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!” Journal of Nanophotonics 7 (1): 070198. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JNP.7.070198.
  9. Nehru, Jawaharlal, and C. D. Narasimhaiah. 1989. India Rediscovered. Oxford University Press.
  10. Robbie, K., M. J. Brett, and A. Lakhtakia. 1996. “Chiral Sculptured Thin Films.” Nature 384 (6610): 616–616. https://doi.org/10.1038/384616a0.
  11. “The Far Side Comic Strip by Gary Larson – Official Website | TheFarSide.Com.” n.d. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://www.thefarside.com/.
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Author: G.V. Pavan Kumar

Namaste, Hola & Welcome from G.V. Pavan Kumar. I am a Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India. My research interests are : (1) Optics & Soft Matter: Optically Induced Forces – Assembly, Dynamics & Function; (2) History and Philosophy of Science – Ideas in Physical Sciences. I am interested in the historical and philosophical evolution of ideas and tools in the physical sciences and technology. I research the intellectual history of past scientists, innovators, and people driven by curiosity, and I write about them from an Indian and Asian perspective. My motivation is to humanize science. In the same spirit, I write and host my podcast Pratidhvani – Humanizing Science.

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