Vinod Prakash Sharma


Vinod Prakash Sharma was an Indian malariologist and entomologist, known for his work in vector biology and bioenvironmental control of malaria. Recipient of many awards, including the Padma Shri, he was again honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.

Biography

Vinod Prakash Sharma was born on 6 April 1938 in Allahabad, in Uttar Pradesh, India. After early education locally, he joined Allahabad University from where he secured MSc in 1960 and DPhil in 1964. In 1965, he left to South Bend, Indiana, USA and joined the University of Notre Dame as a post doctoral research associate, but later, shifted to Purdue University, USA. Sharma returned to India in 1968 and joined Allahabad University, again, to complete his DSc which he promptly did in 1979.
Sharma, presently lives in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi and takes care of his duties as the Distinguished Professor at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Career

Sharma started his career at the Forest Research Institute, in the high altitude area of Dehradun, as a Pool Officer, in 1969. A year later, he joined the World Health Organization sponsored Indian Council of Medical Research project as a Senior Scientist on genetic control of Culicine mosquitoes, in 1970, where he worked till 1975. The next move was to the Vector Control Research Centre and Malaria Research Unit, in 1976, as the Deputy Director, for a 2-year stint there. In 1978, he joined the Malaria Research Centre, New Delhi as its Deputy Director.
During his stint at the Malaria Research Centre, he started working on the upgradation of the centre and, as a result, the centre was upgraded by the Government of India, renaming it as the National Institute of Malaria Research, in 1982. Sharma was made its first Director, a post from where he retired, in 1998, as Additional Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research.
On his retirement from the government service, the Indian Council of Medical Research recognised Sharma's services by making him the Meghnad Saha Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Delhi.
He is also leading the Safe Water campaign initiated by National Academy of Sciences, India

Major achievements

Sharma has been credited with many scientific and research achievements. His studies on the chemo and radio sterilisation of male mosquitoes are well documented. He is credited with developing a new technique for sex separation of mosquitoes. He has also worked extensively on the bioenvironmental malaria control which led to many innovations in the subject. He is also acknowledged for his contributions to vector biology.
Sharma is known to have developed the Malaria Research Unit, New Delhi into a full-fledged Research Centre, the National Institute of Malaria Research. He has also contributed to the popularisation of science, through his books, journals and education programs.

Positions held

Vinod Prakash Sharma has held many positions of importance, by way of recognition and those of responsibility, throughout his career.
Sharma was the Chief Editor of an important journal, the Journal of Parasitic Diseases, which was active in dissemination of knowledge by publishing reviews and research papers on a regular basis. He was also the Chief Editor of the in-house journal of the National Academy of Sciences, India.
He has also published many books on the subjects of bioenvironmental control and vector biology, both in English and Hindi languages.
Books in English
Books in Hindi
Apart from the books, Sharma has written over 300 research papers in various national and international journals.
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