Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, President of India, 2002-2007 receives the Degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) from President of the Republic of Singapore and Chancellor of NTU, Mr S R Nathan, in an award ceremony held today, 26 August 2008 at the Nanyang Auditorium. The honorary degree is conferred in recognition of Dr Kalam’s life-long achievements in the service of India, his international reputation in science and technology and his contributions to the improvement of India-Singapore relations.
Among the guests at the ceremony are Senior Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr S Balaji.
The conferment of an honorary doctorate on Dr Kalam is a major boost to the growing academic partnership between Singapore and India, and will enhance the level of engagement between institutions in the two countries.
Distinguished contributions in technology for the betterment of India
Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, earned his Aeronautical Engineering degree from the Madras Institute of Technology in 1957 and contributed to the development of India’s first satellite launch. As the Chief Executive of the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India, Dr Kalam was in charge of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Project.
Dr Kalam served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from 1999 to 2001 and was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet and piloted the India Millennium Mission 2020.
As the President of India in 2002, he continued to promote the application of technology in solving human and societal problems. After completing his term as President in of India in 2007, Dr Kalam continued to advance the application of science and technology in India, particulary among its young citizens. Popularly known as the “Missile Man of India” for his works, Dr Kalam is widely acknowledged as a progressive mentor, innovator and visionary in India.
Promoting the convergence of technologies in NTU
During his visit to NTU in 2006, Dr Kalam, then President of India, was particularly impressed with the convergence of key technologies like nano, bio and information technologies in the University. He was confident that a major collaboration between Singapore and India would greatly benefit humankind. Since then, NTU has benefited from the close working relationship with the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) in nano-technology.
For more details on NTU’s India initiatives, please refer to the fact sheet.
About Honorary Degrees
The Doctor of Engineering degree is one of the four honorary degrees conferred by NTU. The other honorary degrees are Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Science and Doctor of Letters. Honorary degrees are awarded to distinguished individuals who have achieved pre-eminence in their field of profession, or who have made significant contributions to their country, the society or in international relations. Honorary degrees are also conferred on individuals who have made important contributions to the University. Honourees affirm and dignify the University’s achievements and standing.
This year, NTU conferred honorary degrees to:
• Professor Yang Chen Ning, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1957
- Degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
• Dr A PJ Abdul Kalam, President of India from 2002 – 2007
- Degree of Doctor of Engineering (honoris causa)
• Professor Chua Nam Hai, Andrew W. Mellon Professor and Head, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology at the Rockefeller University
- Degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
• Professor Jose Luis Encarnacao, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics
- Degree of Doctor of Engineering (honoris causa)
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