Who is Sethuraman Panchanathan? Trump-appointed Indian-origin NSF director resigns, issues statement, says…
In a memo to NSF employees on April 24, Panchanathan announced his resignation. According to MSNBC, it came as a shock to many staff members. Earlier, Panchanathan had defended the changes happening at the NSF.
New Delhi: Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Indian-origin director of the US’ National Science Foundation (NSF), has resigned from his post. Appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, Panchanathan decided to step down because the NSF confronted solid criticism over budget cuts, job layoffs, and stress round vary, equity, and inclusion (DEI) insurance policies. The cuts were mainly pushed by the brand new Department of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
In a memo to NSF workers on April 24, Panchanathan announced his resignation. Per MSNBC, it came as a shock to many workers individuals. Earlier, Panchanathan had defended the changes taking place on the NSF. However rapidly after, he stop, asserting he had “done all I will be able to originate”. In his message, he said, “I imagine that I if truth be told delight in done all I will be able to to plan the mission of the company and feel that it is time for me to cross the baton to new leadership. Right here's a pivotal second for our nation through world competitiveness. NSF is an especially major funding to develop US scientific dominance a fact. We must no longer lose our competitive edge.”
Who is Sethuraman Panchanathan?
Panchanathan became chosen because the 15th director of the NSF and became speculated to help till 2026. Soon after taking payment, he centered on three big goals: promoting future analysis, guaranteeing inclusivity, and maintaining The United States’s world leadership in science and engineering solid.
Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 1960, Panchanathan studied in India and later moved to Canada for higher training. He done his M.Sc. and M.Tech in India and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa. He studied at renowned establishments fancy IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore, and Vivekananda College underneath Madras University. In 2015, the Indian govt honored him with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-best in all probability civilian award.
Detect of his profession background
Panchanathan’s profession has been plump of achievements. He began as an assistant professor on the University of Ottawa in 1989 and delight in change into an partner professor in 1994. In 1997, he moved to Arizona Inform University (ASU), where he later became a plump professor. In 2001, he based the Heart for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC). His work earned him fellowships from revered organizations fancy IEEE, the National Academy of Inventors, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Before leaving ASU in 2016, he served because the executive vice president of Records Endeavor Vogue and since the executive analysis and innovation officer.
Panchanathan became first nominated to the NSF’s National Science Board in 2014 by aged President Barack Obama. Later, President Trump chosen him as NSF director, and he formally took mumble of job on June 23, 2020. He became entirely the second Indian-American to steer the NSF after Dr. Subra Suresh.
Working out NSF: What does it originate? What are the challenges?
The National Science Foundation (NSF), created in 1950, manages a $9 billion federal budget that helps professors, younger researchers, and scientific initiatives in all places in the country. It plays a predominant feature in making superior scientific discovery and innovation within the US.
Goal no longer too lengthy ago, alternatively, the NSF has been facing major challenges. The newly fashioned Department of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has criticized most of the NSF’s vary, equity, and inclusion (DEI) applications, calling them wasteful. In April, the NSF announced it would be canceling tons of of research grants, reducing bigger than $230 million in funding.
Experiences counsel that over 380 grant initiatives delight in already been dropped. DOGE posted on X that 402 DEI grants worth $233 million were canceled, however the NSF has no longer confirmed the staunch figures. To this level, the basis has additionally remained silent on whether or no longer extra cuts will happen within the lengthy bustle.
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