Prof. V. Venkata Basava Rao - Transforming Education and Research in Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy

 

Prof. V. Venkata Basava Rao, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osmania University
 
Prof. V. Venkata Basava Rao was born on 7th July 1964 and hails from Mangalagiri Guntur (dist), Andhra Pradesh. I retired from my services on 31^st July 2024 at the age of 60 years. At the time of my retirement, I was working as a Senior Professor of Chemical Engineering, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Head of the Food Technology Department, Chairman of the Board of Studies in Food Technology, Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Hotel Management, OU, and Director, Academic Research & Development Innovations Cell, University College of Technology (A), Osmania University, Hyderabad.
 

Could you tell us about your educational and professional journey?
 
I completed my B. Tech in Chemical Engineering from Andhra University in 1986 and my M.Tech (1988) and PhD (1991) in Chemical Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur. Worked in M/S. Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bhanur (1991-1995) for 4 years and joined JNTU College of Engineering, Anatapur, as an Assistant Professor (1995-1997). After working for two and a half years at JNTU, I moved to the University College of Technology, Osmania University (in 1997) as an Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor in 2005. Has 29 years of teaching and 4 years of industrial experience.

During my service at OU, I held posts like Principal, Dean, HoD, Vice Principal, and Director of Evaluation. Coordinator for World Bank projects, TEQIP and CoE, worth Rs. 25 crore He served as a member of the CFE and CFO committees of APPCB during 2010-16. Also served as Director, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam IIIT-Ongole, RGUKT on Lien during 2017-18.

Supervised 27 PhDs and guided 74 M.Tech theses. Published 67 Technical Papers in reputed journals and attended 16 international conferences in the United States of America, Canada, Germany, and Singapore. Prof. Basava Rao has been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the month of March 2024.

 

What are your areas of expertise, and how have they evolved over the course of your career?
 
I have expertise and hands-on experience in advanced separation processes and novel fluidization methods for intensified industrial operations. Member of professional bodies, rich experience in administration, community service, and corporate activities; proactive in improving the infrastructure, handling research projects, and preparing institutional development plans in line with affiliating organizations; best research adviser for young budding researchers; good team leader to run the organization with a focus on the vision and mission of the institute.

 

 
What are your current roles and responsibilities as the Dean of Pharmacy and the Chairperson of the Board of Studies for Hotel Management and Catering Technology?
 
The following are my roles and responsibilities:

• To plan the academic programs of the Faculty of Pharmacy
• To look after the academic programs of the Department of Food Technology and to revise the syllabus and prepare the Almanac of the programs offered in affiliated colleges under Osmania University
• To revise the syllabus and prepare the Almanac of the programs offered in affiliated colleges under Osmania University
• To encourage and motivate faculty and students in academic research activities
• To inculcate consultancy and industry interaction
• To look into funding projects

 

What was the inspiration behind getting into a career in academics?
 
During my tenth class and intermediate (10+2), the way of teaching my own teachers inspired me to take up a career in academics. The clarity in their teachings and the methodology they adopted made it so easy to understand the subject contents. By getting so much inspiration, I started teaching mathematics, physics, and chemistry to my fellow classmates. Even though I decided to be in academics, initially I worked for some time in industry. I learned teamwork through my industrial experience and it helped me a lot in dealing with group projects like TEQIP and DST-PURSE during my career. 

 

Could you tell us about how your leadership style impacted your department's success, and what notable awards have you received?
 
For my contributions, I was honored with the Young Scientist Award by the Andhra Pradesh Council for Science and Technology (APCOST) during 1999. He was awarded 5^th position out of the TEN as “The Best Professors” by the student community in the survey conducted by M/s. 24/7 Customer in Education for the year 2008. Received “The Hindustan Lever’s The Outstanding Chemical Engineer of the Year 2009 (under 45 years)” Biennial Award.

I have been elected four terms as a council member for the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) and extended services as Controller of Examinations, Registrar, Hon. Joint Secretary, Vice President, IIChE (two terms). I have been elected as IIChE National President for the year 2020 and conferred as a Life Fellow of IIChE in the CHEMCON 2022 held in Kanpur. I am also a FIE and Chartered Engineer of IE(I) and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

 

What advice would you give to young researchers and educators looking to make a significant impact in their fields?
 
My sincere message to young researchers is to work with ethics in their area, whatever they choose. Most of the young researchers are taking up their research work for the sake of doctoral degrees and publishing articles in underrated journals since it is mandatory to get promotions in their career. It is obviously giving unsatisfactory results and making their contributions unworthy. Community development through education is to be prime moto for the young researchers.

Young educators are also following unfruitful teaching and learning methods. They have to read and prepare before going into class rooms. The chalk & talk method is slowly getting obsolete. But it gives clarity in the contents and ease to understand for students. They have to use PowerPoint presentations wherever they are required. Active learning methods like student-centric methods are to be encouraged in the classroom teachings.