Queen's University Belfast confers honorary Doctorate on Kalam

Prasun Sonwalkar and H S Rao

London, Jun 11 (PTI) Internationally-renowned space
scientist and former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam was
conferred with honorary Doctorate of Laws by Queen's
University Belfast, a prominent varsity based in Northern
Ireland.

Dr Kalam, who is popularly known as India's 'missile
man', received the honour at a special ceremony on Wednesday
evening from Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Peter
Gregson for "distinction in public service."

The ceremony was the latest development in QUB's
growing connections with India, where the university has
recently forged several dynamic academic partnerships.

Gregson said: "Through Dr Kalam's outstanding
abilities as a world statesman, scientist, educator and
visionary, he has inspired millions in his native India and
around the world.

"It is a significant honour for Queen's to host this
visit from the former leader of one of the world's most
thriving and exciting countries. A number of distinguished
Indian institutions hold a special place within the Queen's
family of academic partners and Dr Kalam's visit is a tangible
example of the educational, research, business and cultural
links between India and Northern Ireland."

A former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government
of India, Dr Kalam is also an award-winning aerospace engineer
who played a leading role in many of India's most recent
technological breakthroughs, including the landing of India's
first unmanned lunar spacecraft in November last year.

In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious King Charles II
medal of the Royal Society and in April this year he became
the first Asian to receive the Hoover Medal, America's top
engineering prize.

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning,
said: "The conferment of an honorary degree on Dr Abdul Kalam,
a pre-eminent scientist and a widely respected former
President, reflects the breadth and depth of the
collaborations between Queen's University and India.

"My Department strongly supports the collaborations
being forged in seeking to further strengthen the vital bridge
between India and Northern Ireland."

QUB's links with India include student exchanges
between the School of English and Hyderabad University under
the Prime Ministers Initiative and a research partnership with
the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi which focuses on
cancer biology and is supported by the Ministry of
Biotechnology.

In 2008, QUB opened the East India Water Research
Centre in partnership with Bengal Engineering and Science
University and India's Institute of Environmental Management
and Studies. PTI PS HSR
SKT
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