Prof. Somasundaran inducted to Royal Society of Canada

OTTAWA: In a ceremony on November 18 in Ottawa, Professor Ponisseril Somasundaran was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the only one from outside Canada to be elected this year.
A member of the faculty of Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science since 1970, Dr. Somasundaran was one of the youngest members to be elected in 1985 to the USA National Academy of Engineering, the highest possible distinction then in engineering in the U.S., the Chinese Academy of Engineering (1998), Indian National Academy of Engineering (1999) and the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (2000) and Balkan academy of science/Mineral Technology.
He was awarded Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 2010 and was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2009. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in
1990, the AIME Gaudin Award (1982), the Mill Man of Distinction Award (1983), the Publication Board Award (l980) the Richards Award (l987), the Taggart Award (1987), the “Most Distinguished Achievement in Engineering” award from AINA (1980) and the Engineering Foundation’s Aplan Award (1992).
He has served on many international, national and professional committees and National Research Council Panels, NSF research and advisory panels, DOI Advisory Panel and university research advisory panels. He served in the Congress’ 28th Environmental Advisory Committee (Congressman Gilman, Chair).
The Pan American Committee also awarded Prof. Somasundaran the title of Pan American Advisor for Mines, Metallurgy and Materials. In the community, he served as member of the Piermont Planning Board and currently as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Citizen Advisory Committee, Board of the Volunteers in Service to Education in India, U.S. Congress 28th District Environmental Advisory Committee etc.

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