Dr. K Sivan Takes the Helm at IIT Indore
Former Chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr. K Sivan, has been selected as the new Chairperson of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore. This significant appointment was announced by IIT Indore on September 1, 2023, via their official Twitter account.
“Honoured to have Dr. K. Sivan, former Chairperson, ISRO and former Secretary, Department of Space as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of IIT Indore.”
– IIT Indore (@IITIOfficial) September 1, 2023
Dr. K Sivan is a highly respected figure in India’s space community, known for his pivotal role in ISRO’s accomplishments and contributions to space science. He will be taking over from Professor Deepak B Phatak, whose tenure at IIT Indore concluded on August 21, 2023.
Farewell to Professor Deepak B Phatak
Expressing their gratitude towards Professor Deepak B Phatak, IIT Indore posted the following message:
“Very thankful to the outgoing Chairperson Prof. Deepak Phatak who had mentored the Institute and taken us to newer heights. Prof. Phatak has led us from the front and guided us through his immense experience and out-of-the-box solutions.”
– IIT Indore (@IITIOfficial) September 1, 2023
Professor Deepak Phatak’s leadership played a vital role in the growth and development of IIT Indore, and his innovative solutions propelled the institute to achieve new milestones.
Dr. K Sivan’s Appointment: A Moment of Pride
The timing of Dr. K Sivan’s appointment is particularly noteworthy, as it coincides with India’s historic achievement in space exploration—the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3. Professor Suhas Joshi, the Director of IIT Indore, expressed his optimism about the institute’s future with Dr. Sivan at the helm:
“There could not have been a better time to induct him into the IIT Indore family when India has achieved a historic feat with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 and proved its prowess and expertise in space engineering,”
– Professor Suhas Joshi, Director of IIT Indore
Professor Joshi further added, “I believe that IIT Indore will get an opportunity to contribute to the country’s space mission by working in the untapped areas of space engineering under the guidance of Dr. K Sivan.”
About Dr. K Sivan
Dr. K Sivan’s journey in the field of space science began on October 29, 1982, when he joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in the design and development of ISRO’s launch vehicle program.
After earning a BSc in Mathematics from Madurai University, Dr. Sivan pursued a BTech in Aeronautics at the Madras Institute of Technology. He went on to complete his PhD in aerospace engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and his ME in aerospace engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
One of Dr. Sivan’s notable contributions is the development of SITARA, a 6D trajectory simulation program that serves as the foundation for real-time and static trajectory simulations of all ISRO launch vehicles. He also played a pivotal role as the primary mission architect for the PSLV mission, which successfully launched 104 satellites into orbit.
Dr. Sivan’s expertise extends to academia as well. He has authored numerous articles in respected journals, and in November 2015, Springer released a book titled “Integrated Design for Space Transportation System,” further highlighting his contributions to the field of space engineering.
This appointment of Dr. K Sivan as the Chairperson of IIT Indore’s Board of Governors is a testament to his remarkable career and his ongoing commitment to advancing space science and technology in India.