Honorary degree citation - Meyya Meyyappan
By: Muthukumaran Packirisamy, June 2018
Mr. President, it is my honour to present to you Dr. Meyya Meyyappan, one of the world’s most respected researchers in the next-generation field of nanotechnology.
After working in industry for 12 years, NASA recruited Dr. Meyyappan in 1996 to start new research activities at its Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Only a decade later, he became NASA’s Chief Scientist for Exploration Technology.
Dr. Meyyappan has been a pioneer in a field that is set to advance everything from electronics, computing and communication to health, energy, environmental sustainability, transportation and national security.
He holds 22 nanotechnology patents for space exploration and for everyday needs here on earth using novel nanomaterials. These have included flexible printable electronics, chemical and bio sensors, energy storage devices, and self-healing electronics for deep space exploration lasting over 20 years.
Afin d’exploiter toute la diversité des applications possibles, il met l’accent sur l’interdisciplinarité et le travail d’équipe. Il est un des rares universitaires à être membre des trois grandes sociétés de génie – électrique et électronique; mécanique; et chimique.
Dr. Meyyappan’s public and educational service matches his technical innovation. He has given a public lecture series across the US called “Nanotechnology: The Next Frontier.” He was a driving force behind the website tynano.org, which presents nanotech at an introductory level.
He has traveled to high schools around the world to discuss nanotechnology education and training with students. And as a founding member of the United States Interagency Working Group on Nanotechnology, he has helped national governments establish their own nanotech initiatives.
Among honours too numerous to list, he is in the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 2009, joining the ranks of such pioneers as Steve Wozniak, Gordon Moore, Bill Hewlett and David Packard.
Mr. Chancellor, on behalf of Senate and the Board of Governors, it is my privilege and honour to present to you Dr. Meyya Meyyappan, so that you may confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.
