Dr. Bakhtaver Mahajan

Designation: Chairperson
Email: bs_mahajan@yahoo.com
Education & Qualifications: Ph.D. (Biochemical Genetics) – Bombay University

Dr. Mahajan was President, IWSA (2007-2009). In 2007, she retired from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. With a PhD in Biochemical Genetics from BARC (Bombay University), for the first ten years of her scientific career, she worked as an Assistant Editor with Science Today, a Times of India publication. In 1990, she joined HBCSE and worked in the areas of biology, health and environment education. Besides research publications, booklets and posters in these areas, she has authored three (two with co-authors) books: Microbes and Disease (Oxford University Press–OUP), New Biology and Genetic Diseases (OUP) and Health Matters (HBCSE publication). She initiated and led the Indian Biology Olympiad movement for the first three years, wherein Indian students won laurels for the country. In 2004, she conceptualized and led a major health and environment education programme, Health and Environment: Action-based Learning (HEAL).

Dr. Mahajan was a paper setter for UPSC exams (GK) for several years in the early 1980’s. She had been elected as Fellow, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (2002), received the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha’s award in the memory of Savitribai Phule (2003), and was on the editorial board of International J. of Biology Education. She is the first recipient of the Homi Bhabha Award for Science Education – 2006, instituted by the TIFR Endowment Committee. She was an independent elected municipal councillor from Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 1976-1982.

Dr. V. Sudha Rao

Designation: Secretary
Email: sudharao43@gmail.com
Education & Qualifications: M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition) – SNDT Women’s University, M.S (Grain Science) – Kansas State University, USA;  Ph.D. (Food Technology) – Bombay University

Dr. Rao worked as Senior Scientist in Food Technology Div. BARC, Mumbai for 34 years. Her expertise is in radiation preservation of foods, especially in cereals & legumes. She has worked on compositional, functional & organoleptic properties of food after low dose of gamma irradiation. She has 67 publications in scientific journals. She is a fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Science and many professional organizations. She is also member on the research council of Institute of Chemical Technology. She is an Expert Member, Panel on Food Irradiation (under Technology Vision 2020). Mission Projects of TIFAC (Technology Information), Forecasting & Assessment Council, Govt. of India, New Delhi. She has been a very active member of IWSA and served in its various programmes. She was Vice president, IWSA for 2 terms : 2009-2013 and President for the term 2013-15. Thereafter she joined as Member, IWSA’s Board of Trustees. Presently, she provides advice and guidance for conducting the Diploma course in Early Childhood Care & Education at IWSA. She also coordinates activities for IWSA’s Indirabai Padhye Nursery school.

Dr. Devaki Ramanathan

Designation: Treasurer
Email: devakir66@yahoo.com
Education & Qualifications: M.Sc (Physics) – Bombay University;  Ph.D (Physics) – Pune University

Dr. Devaki Ramanathan was a Senior physicist in Technical Physics & Prototype Engineering Division of BARC, Mumbai for 39 years. Her specialization is in Ultra high vacuum technology, Field emission/Field in microscopy, surface physics, Mass spectrometry technology, Glow discharge & ICP-MS. She has published a number of papers in National & International scientific journals including a paper in the prestigious international journal “NATURE”.

She has been an active member of a number of professional societies. Devaki has served IWSA in different educational activities & program. She was President, IWSA during 2015-17. She also actively participates in the programs of the Science awareness committee and other committees of IWSA.

Dr. Surekha Zingde

Designation: Member
Email: surekha.zingde@gmail.com
Education & Qualifications: BSc Chemistry, Bangalore University, Bangalore; MSc Chemistry, IIT, Bombay; PhD, Chemistry, Boston University USA; Visiting Fellow, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

Dr. Surekha Zingde is member of the Board of Trustees. She was the past President of IWSA (2017-19). Dr. Zingde was also a member of several committees of IWSA. She retired as Dy. Director, Cancer Research Institute, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, in March 2013 after 33y service with the Centre. Her expertise is in Cancer Biology, chronic myeloid leukemia, membrane proteins, signal transduction and Oral cancer proteomics. Dr. Zingde is Fellow, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences. She is Chairperson of the Indian Scientific Advisory Committee of Lady Tata Memorial Trust. She is a member of the Scientific advisory committees and Chairperson of the ethics committees of different institutions. Dr. Zingde is involved in syllabus revision and syllabus formation of some colleges in Mumbai. She has been a reviewer for several journals and reviewer of thesis from different universities. She was Professor of Life Sciences of the HBNI. Dr. Zingde has been a visiting faculty at University of Mumbai-DAE-CEBS, a member of the Research and Recognition Committee of ICT, Mumbai and University of Mumbai and member of government project review and funding committees. She has vast experience in setting up a Research Institute. She provides consultancy for life science research. She was the past President of the Proteomics Society, India during 2014-16 and is presently a member of its Executive Council (2023—25). Eleven students have completed their Ph.D and 4 students their MSc under her guidance. She has 76 peer reviewed papers, several book chapters, a monograph and 4 patents.

Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar

Designation: Member

Email: lj_dhareshwar@yahoo.com

Educational Qualifications:

B.Sc. (Hons) Physics: Bangalore University; Ph.D. Physics: University of Mumbai

Raja Ramanna Fellow of DAE (2010-2015).

Dr. Lalitha has worked for forty-five years at BARC, in the field of High-power lasers, laser plasmas and applications. She was the Head of the Laser and Neutron Physics Division of BARC prior to her retirement in July, 2010. She was instrumental in carrying out several prestigious projects in BARC and has guided several students to obtain their PhD. She has been invited by International Laboratories and Universities, in USA, Japan, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic and other countries, for Scientific Collaboration and Training scientists and research scholars, in the latest field of Lasers & Plasma Physics. Lalitha is a member of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, a spiritual organization. As a Prefect, Spiritual Trainer, she has strived to impart spiritual training through meditation. She had formulated and conducted Value Based Education programs for several schools and colleges in Mumbai, as well as in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Lalitha was Chairperson of Golden Jubilee Committee (2021-23), Co-ordinator of both Day-care and Vigyan Prasar Programmes (2021-2023). She is an active member of IWSA and has been Secretary of IWSA HQ EC (2015-2017), Vice president (2017-2019), President (2019-2021), and Convenor of Science Awareness Committee in the recent past.