IIT Madras prof Thalappil Pradeep becomes the third Indian to be elected to European Academy of Engineering

Thalappil Pradeep, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), has been elected as a full-time member of the European Academy of Engineering (EAE), making him the third Indian scientist to receive the recognition.

The EAE election has come right after Thalappil Pradeep was selected for the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Jagadish Chandra Bose (JC Bose) grant. This marks his third five-year term under the recognition.

The honour recognises his pioneering contributions to water purification and nanotechnology, including the development of affordable technologies that have helped millions of people across India access safe drinking water.

CNR Rao and Biman Bagchi, professors at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, are the other two Indian scientists who are members of the EAE. Several scientists of Indian origin working in Europe and the United States are also members of the academy.

IIT Madras hails recognition

Congratulating Thalappil Pradeep, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti said, “Nanoscience and Clean water technologies leading to affordable engineering solutions at scale with high societal impact is very important for a large country like Bharat.  Prof. Pradeep's contributions in these areas are very significant.  The Institute is very proud of this recognition to him.”

He added, Pradeep also founded the International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW), which focuses on turning laboratory research into practical technologies for ensuring water security.

Reflecting on the recognition, Thalappil Pradeep, Deepak Parekh institute chair professor, department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, said, “I am deeply honoured to be elected to the European Academy of Engineering. This recognition strengthens my resolve to pursue new discoveries that can address real societal challenges. It is also a reflection of the growing recognition of India and its leadership in science and technology on the global stage.”

Pradeep’s research, achievements

Pradeep’s research extends beyond water purification to areas including nanomaterials, microdroplets, ice chemistry, clusters, surfaces and spectroscopy. His work lies at the intersection of fundamental chemistry, materials science and engineering and focuses on addressing challenges with significant societal impact.

His other major honours include the Padma Shri, Vigyan Shri, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) prize in Chemistry, Eni award and the VinFuture prize. He is also a fellow of several leading national and international academies. The 2023 Eni award recognised his work linking nanoscience with practical solutions for clean water.