Noted scientist Padma Shri Prof. Dr P K Jena, 92, passes away

By Swagatika Bhutia

Dr Jena’s first assignment in India was in the year 1959 as a senior scientist in Atomic Energy Establishment

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 7: Noted scientist and former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Padma Shri Professor Dr P K Jena, passed away on Tuesday morning.

He was 92.

The scientist, during his days in the department of atomic energy, worked hand in hand with Dr Kalam to make India self-reliant in defence research and development. Both the personalities had played great roles in establishment of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha. The ITR-Chandipur has emerged at the country’s premier missile test centre from where the Agni, Prithvi, Trishul and BrahMos missiles are test-fired at regular intervals.

Dr Jena also served as the science advisor to former PM Indira Gandhi.

Dr Kalam and Dr Jena shared a strong bond of friendship. During his trips to Odisha as the President of India, Dr Kalam often met the scientist and discussed their good old days working as colleagues.

Dr Jena made outstanding contributions towards development of scientific education and research in his areas of specialization in India. His first assignment in India was in the year 1959 as a senior scientist in Atomic Energy Establishment, Mumbai, after his higher studies abroad. He was the first distinguished Professor of the Tata Chair in metallurgical engineering at IIT, Kharagpur. Prior to this as Director, he built the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, a National Laboratory under the CSIR to an Institute of international standing.

Before assuming this position, Dr Jena was Professor of metallurgical engineering at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He has published more than 250 research and technical review papers in his areas of specialization in national and international journals. His contributions in the area of ‘Process Metallurgy’ are highly recognized in India and abroad.