Chennai-based nuclear scientist J Daniel Chellappa was honoured with the coveted ‘High-Achiever (Chanakya) Special Award for the Outstanding Public Communication Professional’ on Friday.
H S Brahma, the Election Commissioner of India presented the award to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist during the inaugural function of the ‘7th Global Communication Conclave 2013’ organised by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) on the theme ‘Communication – Fourth Generation’.
J Daniel Chellappa joined the scientific community at Kalpakkam in 1984. He has significantly contributed to the indigenous development of Uranium-Plutonium mixed carbide fuel for the ‘Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR)’ at Kalpakkam.
Chellappa is currently spearheading the sustained science communication campaign for gaining public admiration and positive reception of the existing and proposed department of atomic energy projects of national importance and international significance, with a view to outreach the benefits of indigenous Research and Development to the public at large. He is the main architect of many high-impact popular annual programmes of DAE like Anu Week Celebrations, Nuclear Festivals, Training the Trainers, Educating the Educators and Networking the Science Communicators among others in Tamil Nadu.