Kaushik Rajashekara, an Indian-origin professor of engineering at the University of Houston, has won the prestigious Global Energy Prize for outstanding contributions to transportation electrification and energy efficiency technologies while reducing power generation emissions.

Only three people in the world were selected this year for the honour, bestowed by the Global Energy Association, out of a record 119 nominations from 43 countries.

Rajashekara is joined as a 2022 laureate by Viktor Orlov, chief specialist of the Centre for Innovative Technologies (Rosatom in Russia) and pioneer in thermonuclear physics; and Mercouri Kanatzidis, professor of chemistry and materials science at Northwestern University and senior researcher at the Argonne National Laboratory.

The awarding ceremony will be held during Russian Energy Week in Moscow on 12-14 October.

‘Does Not See Limits, Only Possibilities’
Rajashekara is engaged in power plants for electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles; electric and hybrid electric aircraft systems; hybrid flying vehicles and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. He is the owner of 36 US patents and 15 foreign patents.

“Professor Rajashekara does not see limits, only possibilities. Electric vehicles are changing the way the world moves, and they have played a vital role in the exploration and improvement of this innovation,” said Renu Khator, the Indian-origin president of the University of Houston. “I congratulate him for this well-earned global distinction and for his role in positioning the University of Houston as the ‘Energy University’.” “The Global Energy Prize is reserved for the best of the best in energy, and Professor Rajashekara is certainly that,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, UH chief energy officer.

“Since joining the University of Houston in 2016, Rajashekara’s vast knowledge and incredible research output has been instrumental in strengthening the intellectual base at UH and our strategic partnerships with the energy industry,” Krishnamoorti said.

“With those futuristic projects in the past, he says the next big thing will be flying cars – and he’s all in. If his track record is proof, it may be time to look skyward for a parking spot,” the university release said.

Originally from India, Rajashekara, grew up in a small village in South India, in one room along with his parents and two brothers. Though neither of his parents were educated, his mother was determined that her children would do better and be the best at whatever they pursued.

He received his B.Eng., M. Eng, and Ph.D. degrees from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore from 1971-1984. From 1977 to 1984, he worked as an assistant professor/senior scientific officer at the Indian Institute of Science and later earned an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, USA in 1992.

Humble Beginnings
Coming from humble beginnings, Rajashekara says he is proud of his role in convincing a skeptical society that electric car could become a reality.

“I have been working on transportation electrification for a long time, starting with Rail Transportation in ABB, then electric and hybrid vehicles in General Motors and Delphi, and then for Aircraft electrification in Rolls-Royce. At the University of Houston, I was able to continue to work in this area and advance the technologies for reducing emissions,” said Rajashekara.

Despite having won numerous awards and accolades, Rajashekara was shocked when news of the award came. “When I received the e-mail about my selection, I could not believe it for a moment. This award definitely shows the importance of energy efficiency improvement and reducing emissions, particularly in the area of transportation, which is responsible for a significant portion of global emissions,” he said.

He has published more than 250 articles in international journals and conference proceedings, co-authored one book with IEEE Press, and has written six monographs and individual chapters for eight books.
He was elected a member of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2012, the Indian National Academy of Engineering in 2013 and the China National Academy of Engineering in 2021 for his contribution to development of the power conversion systems in transportation.

Nahid Bhadelia, Indian American infectious diseases physician, has been appointed as the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID Response at the White House.

Currently on sabbatical from her full-time position as the Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Boston University’s School of Medicine, Bhadelia was named to the Global COVID Response team by US President Joe Biden.

Biden created this team in order to respond strategically to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. At present, the response team is led by Dr. Ashish Jha who is the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. Jha is also on a short-term leave from the Brown University School of Public Health, where he serves as the Dean.

Bhadelia announced in a tweet that she had some “big personal news.”

“I am honored to join @WHCovidResponse as the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID-19 Response. I am humbled to have the opportunity to serve my country and to continue working with our global partners.”
Nahid Bhadelia, Senior Policy Advisor for White House Global Covid-19 Response Team, said on her official Twitter page.

Gloria Waters, Boston University’s Vice President and Associate Provost for Research, commended Bhadelia’s background in health and human security, international affairs, and training in infectious diseases.

Waters added that Bhadelia was a great addition to the White House team because of her extensive experience in health system response to emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. Bhadelia’s work has provided her with “invaluable insights into the underlying challenges to pandemic preparedness,” Waters said.

“Dr. Bhadelia is widely known as an international expert and leader in highly communicable and emerging infectious diseases. She has extensive clinical, field, academic, and policy experience in pandemic preparedness.”
Gloria Waters, Boston University’s Vice President and Associate Provost for Research

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Home News World Indian American Nahid Bhadelia On White House COVID-19 Response Team
Indian American Nahid Bhadelia On White House COVID-19 Response Team
The White House COVID-19 Response team was established by US President Joe Biden to tackle the pandemic.
THE QUINT
Published: 19 Jul 2022, 10:54 PM IST
WORLD
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Indian American Nahid Bhadelia On White House COVID-19 Response Team
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Nahid Bhadelia, Indian American infectious diseases physician, has been appointed as the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID Response at the White House.

Currently on sabbatical from her full-time position as the Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Boston University’s School of Medicine, Bhadelia was named to the Global COVID Response team by US President Joe Biden.

Biden created this team in order to respond strategically to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. At present, the response team is led by Dr. Ashish Jha who is the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. Jha is also on a short-term leave from the Brown University School of Public Health, where he serves as the Dean.

Bhadelia announced in a tweet that she had some “big personal news.”

“I am honored to join @WHCovidResponse as the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID-19 Response. I am humbled to have the opportunity to serve my country and to continue working with our global partners.”
Nahid Bhadelia, Senior Policy Advisor for White House Global Covid-19 Response Team, said on her official Twitter page.

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Gloria Waters, Boston University’s Vice President and Associate Provost for Research, commended Bhadelia’s background in health and human security, international affairs, and training in infectious diseases.

Waters added that Bhadelia was a great addition to the White House team because of her extensive experience in health system response to emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. Bhadelia’s work has provided her with “invaluable insights into the underlying challenges to pandemic preparedness,” Waters said.

“Dr. Bhadelia is widely known as an international expert and leader in highly communicable and emerging infectious diseases. She has extensive clinical, field, academic, and policy experience in pandemic preparedness.”
Gloria Waters, Boston University’s Vice President and Associate Provost for Research
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Nahid Bhadelia’s Work
Bhadelia was born in India and grew up in Sweden and Saudi Arabia. She moved to the US as a teenager.

She is the founder of Boston University’s Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy & Research (CEID) and also an associate director of BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases laboratories (NEIDL).

Bhadelia was instrumental in helping launch and develop the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center, the university’s primary teaching hospital.

Under Bhadelia’s leadership, the CEID has grown into a crucial centre for research and actionable policies. The centre has helped in congressional hearings, advised legislative offices, created policy briefs and contributed in pandemic preparedness bills, according to the Boston University’s publication, The Brink.

Bhadelia has also worked in West and East Africa during several Ebola virus outbreaks. She has helped build pandemic preparedness strategies in Liberia and Uganda and also codirects the Boston University and University of Liberia Emerging and Epidemic Virus Research Program, which is funded by the Fogarty International Center.

The menu of an American restaurant serving Indian food has stunned netizens.A US based restaurant named the Indian Crepe Co. which serves South Indian delicacies has come under scanner of Twitterati after the classic names of idli and dosa were given an American twist.

However, the problem doesn’t end here, with the name of the dishes, the prices at which it is charged also gained attention.

The restaurant in its menu has named the classic South Indian Dosa as ‘Naked Crepe’, Sambhar Vada is named ‘Dunked Doughnut Delight’, Masala Dosa has been named as ‘Smashed Potato Crepe’.

The popular Indian breakfast Idli has been named ‘Dunked Rice Cake Delight’.

While Twitterati were already stunned by the names, however, the prices baffled them more. The “smashed potato crepe” is sold at exorbitantly high prices which is $18.69 i.e. ₹1,494, whereas the ‘naked crepe’ costs $17.59 i.e. around ₹1,406.

The “Dunked Doughnut Delight” is priced at $16.49 which is ₹1,318 while the “Dunked Rice Cake Delight” was sold at $15.39 which is ₹1,230.

The image was shared on 17 July by a Twitter user named Inika. It has amassed 20,157 likes and over 2,513 re-tweets.

However, this doesn’t end here.

Commenting on her post, a user shared an image of other things in the menu with weird names.

Since then, Twitterati have been discussing the names given by the restaurant and also slammed the restaurant for such high prices.

A user commented, “I hate it when Indian names are not used. Sushi, Sashimi are easily used and everyone understands what they are. I believe it is Indians who do not like to use Indian names – Westerners are OK with it.” Another user wrote, “Why can’t they use the original names? Others things can be given in explanation. Sushi is called sushi everywhere and not “Raw boneless fish chunks wrapped in celery”

Another wrote, “Sacrilege! When we are calling a pizza a pizza everywhere in the world! Why not dosa ? !”

“Some how those names makes sense. They named it in a way Americans can understand,” one of the tweets read.

A user commented, “We get all this here in 400 rupees or $5.” Some said, “This means daily I might be eating 4000 worth food easily.”

“Selling south Indian food for more than ₹1000 is a crime. I can legit get 2 dosas (crepes) for ₹80 anywhere in India. Charging $16 for something you can make for less than $2 (in USA) is mad, the profit margins would be insane tho,” a user commented.

A user said, “Everything from the price tags to the naming is absolutely insane Naked crepe!??? Bro it’s literally Dosa”

Some other user commented saying, “in my country it cost 20 ₹inr for the Dunked Doughnut Delight, For Dunked Rice Cake Delight 20 ₹inr with free Lentil soup as much u want For naked Crepe it cost 40 rs inr and with extra butter 50 rs inr For the Smashed Potato Crepe it cost 60 rd inr.”

“Perfect example of complicating easiest things Idli Vada Sambar renamed into something which is hard to pronounce! #savesoil to save Idli Samabhar and Vada it’s not just a dish.. It’s an emotion of every south indians.,” another user wrote.