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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MARCH 08, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

ASHOK VEERARAGHAVAN

Engineer honored with Texas’

highest academic award

support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and oppor-
tunities of the future.”
Shah, the 72-year-old has been confirmed in the 1,60,000 pounds per year
and four-year term role to take charge as the public broadcaster’s first Indi-
an-origin Chair from March 4 till March 2028.
Shah was picked as the government’s preferred candidate in December
last year and cross-party MPs of the House of Commons Media Culture, Me-
dia and Sport Select Committee quizzed him for his pre-appointment scrutiny.
“BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made
to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power. If I
am able to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service
broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisa-
ndian-origin computer engineer Ashok Veeraraghavan is the proud recip- tion meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it
ient of one of the highest academic honors in Texas—the Edith and Peter
IO’Donnell Award. would be an honour,” said Shah.
“BBC has a great place in British life and a unique duty to reach a wide
The Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology
(TAMEST), which presents this award to rising researchers in the state, said audience right across the country and I will do all I can to ensure it fulfils this
in an increasingly competitive market,” he said.
Veeraraghavan, professor of electrical and computer engineering at George
R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, was chosen for his revolu- SUNIL BHARTI MITTAL
tionary imaging technology that seeks to make the invisible visible.
The award is given annually to star researchers in the state engaged in
pathbreaking work in medicine, engineering, biological sciences, physical sci- Entrepreneur conferred
ences and technology innovation.
A professor at George R Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, Honorary Knighthood by King
Ashok Veeraraghavan completed his B.Tech. in electrical engineering from
IIT, Madras in 2002. He then moved to the US for his master’s degree in elec- Charles III
trical and Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland. Following
this, in 2008, Mr Veeraraghavan completed his Ph.D. in Electrical and Com-
puter Engineering from the same university.
Veeraraghavan has also co-developed FlatCam. It is a thin sensor chip
with a mask that replaces lenses in a traditional camera. A recipient of many
awards, before the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award, he was honored with
IEEE Fellow in 2022. In 2017, he received the NSF Career Award and the
Hershel M. Rich Invention Award. Mr Veeraraghavan’s research work pro-
vides solutions in imaging scenarios, wherein there is inaccessibility of the vi-
sualisation target because of the scattering of light.

DR SAMIR SHAH

Media executive is BBC’s first

Indian-origin chairman

r Samir Shah, an India-born media executive was recently confirmed as
the new BBC chairman pursuant to his selection clearing the stages of unil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has
Dscrutiny to be approved by King Charles III this week. been conferred an Honorary Knighthood by King Charles III of the
UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced his selection and said SUnited Kingdom. This prestigious recognition makes him the first Indian
“With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, citizen to receive such an honour from King Charles III ‘for services to UK and
Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair.” India business relations.’
Further, she said “He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a Sunil Bharti Mittal expressed his gratitude, stating, “The UK and India
rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the Continued on next page... >>

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