Topic        :  Energy and Environmental Problems facing the third World and their
                     Probable Solutions

Speaker   :  Dr. D.P. Kothari
                     Vice-Chancellor
                     VIT University, Vellore

Brief Profile of the Speaker

Prof. Dr. D.P. Kothari, obtained his B.E.(Electrical), M.E. (Power Systems) and Doctoral Degree in Electrical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani. His fields of specialization are Optimal Hydro-thermal Scheduling, Unit Commitment, Maintenance Scheduling, Energy Conservation (loss minimization and voltage control), and Power Quality and Energy Systems Planning and Modeling.

Prof. Kothari is the recipient of National Khosla Lifetime achievement Award (2005) from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, National Award for Science and Technology (2001) from the UP Government at the annual convention of ISTE, Bhubaneswar, Eminent Engineering Personality from the Institute of Engineers (2001). He has also won several best paper awards and gold medals for his work.

Prior to his assuming charge as Vice Chancellor of VIT University, he was the Professor of Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi. He also served as Director i/c, IIT, Delhi (2005) Deputy Director (Administration), IIT, Delhi (2003-06), Principal, Visvesvaryaya Regional Engineering College, Nagpur (1997-98), Head, Centre for Energy Studies, IIT, Delhi (1995-97).

He was visiting professor at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia in 1982-83 and 1989 for two years. He was NSF fellow at Purdue University, USA in 1992.

Published 525 research papers in various national and international journals and conferences, guided 27 PhDs, 55 MTechs, authored 20 books in Power Systems and other allied areas. He has delivered several keynote addresses and invited lectures abroad.

Summary of Expert Lecture

Dr. Kothari described with details and statistics the precarious present energy scenario – the growing demand for electric energy and the rapid diminishing of fossil fuels and the ever increasing oil prices and the corresponding escalation of energy costs year after year. He also spoke on the environmental damage caused by the emissions of fossil fuels.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the third world countries to minimize the damage to the environment by taking all safety measures seriously so as to make our posterity to live happily. He briefed some measures.

Dr. Kothari later dwelt on various types of non-conventional energy sources.