Professor Kalidas Shetty of the University of Massachusetts, a scientist of Indian origin, is among five recipients of the first Jefferson Science Fellowship announced by Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Kalidas Shetty, associate professor of food science at Umass, Amherst, Dr. Julian Adams from the University of Michigan, Bruce Averill from the University of Toledo, Dr. Melba Crawford from the University of Texas at Austin, and David Easton from the University of California at Riverside were feted by the State Department.
"The dynamic spirit of science and its search for new ideas has animated America since its earliest days," Powell said in his speech, adding, "The US itself was an experiment in political science, an unprecedented experiment in liberty and in self-government."
He noted how Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were both scientists as well as diplomats and that America needs a strong partnership between the two disciplines so that diseases, weapons of mass destruction and alleviating poverty could be dealt with and overcome.
The fellowship programme, Powell said, "gives the State Department the opportunity to benefit from the counsel and expertise of tenured academic scientists," but the scientists too will benefit from observing the day-to-day working of American foreign policy, an experience they will take back to the classroom.
{{/usCountry}}The fellowship programme, Powell said, "gives the State Department the opportunity to benefit from the counsel and expertise of tenured academic scientists," but the scientists too will benefit from observing the day-to-day working of American foreign policy, an experience they will take back to the classroom.
{{/usCountry}}Shetty is a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho and had his postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Agro-Biological Research, Japan, and the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
He holds at least four patents and has been editor of several reputed agricultural publications. Research in his laboratory focuses on molecular physiology of secondary metabolite synthesis in plants.
His articles and research have been published in many journals. He has also received several awards.