Dr. Thalathoti Prem Kumar, a distinguished Chemical Engineer with a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, MIE, MICHE, and AMMECHE, hails from Andhra Pradesh. Throughout his career, he has worked across various states in India and visited several countries, including the USA, Canada, Germany (East and West), France, Brussels, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. With over 40 years of experience, he is a technically sophisticated, results-oriented, self-driven, and business-savvy professional. His expertise spans the erection, commissioning, operation, and management of petrochemical, thermal, fertilizer, and process plants. Additionally, he has significant experience in executing projects in areas such as petrochemicals, thermal power, gas pipelines, wind power, and the marketing of natural gas, bandwidth, and polymers.

His leadership roles include serving as GM/DGM at GAIL and Director at TNGCL and BOMS, where he led several sucessful intiatives in Project management, site management, for pipelines, and Health, safety & environment (HSE) protocols. He has been instrumental in the planning, formulation, and implementation of policies that ensure effective project execution and efficient production. As a strategic planner, he has a proven ability to manage activities, streamline processes, and enhance productivity. His business acumen allows him to translate business requirements into timely project completion and productive plans within a competitive framework. He has also demonstrated significant expertise in establishing and improving quality and safety systems, driving process improvements, and implementing cost-saving initiatives. Over the years, he has honed exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

He has built lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with people across various levels and backgrounds. His professionalism and leadership have earned him the distinction of being one of the top 30 executives selected for a post-liberalization foreign tour. During this tour, he visited the Netherlands, France, Germany (East and West), and Brussels, where he studied their economies and industries, presenting his findings to the Indian government. He also traveled to Canada to gain insights into their largest pipeline project and gas marketing strategies, and attended leadership courses, including the “Leading Impact Teams” program at Kellogg’s University (USA), the Institute of Business Management in Hyderabad, and the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta. He has worked in renowned organizations such as HOCL, NFL, PPL, GAIL, TNGCL, and BOMS, where he has gained core competencies in projects, commissioning, operation, and HSE management of power plants, petrochemical plants, wind power, thermal plants, and more.

His skills include production planning and control, quality systems implementation, leadership, team building, negotiation, client interface, marketing, and liaising with government authorities and agencies. His diverse experience has also made him an energy expert, having worked with various fuels, including coal, fuel oil, diesel, natural gas, compressed natural gas, piped natural gas for city distribution, hydrogen, LPG, wind power, and solar power. Throughout his education, he consistently ranked among the top students, often achieving the highest honors. His leadership qualities were evident early on as he took up various leadership roles in student unions, officers’ associations, and executive associations.

He was also elected Vice President of the National Fertilizers Cooperative Society. In addition to his professional achievements, he has been deeply committed to social causes. He has been actively involved in charitable activities, such as distributing blankets to the needy every year, serving in orphanages, and contributing to the Manavatha organization for the betterment of society. His passion for social work and his efforts to improve the lives of others continue to reflect his well-rounded character and commitment to giving back to the community. His long and successful career, combined with his contributions to both his profession and society, has earned him widespread recognition as a leader, expert, and philanthropist. PREM KUMAR IEA2024 69 Ms. Chaitalee Pravin, PGT Physics at Babaji Vidhyashram in Chennai, is a dedicated educator and researcher who has seamlessly integrated innovative methodologies into teaching, inspiring countless young minds to pursue science. With a robust academic foundation and an unwavering passion for physics and astrophysics, she has carved a unique path in science education. Her academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Physics from MG Science Institute, Ahmedabad, followed by an M.Sc. in Physics from the Department of Physics, Electronics, and Space Sciences, Gujarat University. A pivotal moment in her career came during a summer school jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Sciences, Raman Research Institute, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. There, under the mentorship of the eminent scientist Prof. C.V. Vishweshwara, she embarked on her first research project on rotating black holes, igniting a lifelong passion for astronomy and astrophysics. Returning to Ahmedabad, she pursued an M.Phil. in Astrophysical Plasma Physics, receiving special permission from Gujarat University to conduct her research at the Physical Research Laboratory. Guided by Dr. Nagesh Rao and later by Prof. A.C. Das, she not only completed her thesis but also gained invaluable life skills. Their mentorship profoundly shaped her academic and professional outlook.

Her professional journey began as a science educator at Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre, where she engaged in educational research and outreach programs. Inspired by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s vision of nurturing scientific curiosity, she contributed to several impactful initiatives such as teacher training programs, student orientation sessions, ISRO’s Space Education Cells, and the Science Express. Her foray into model rocketry became a turning point, as she recognized its potential to teach physics, chemistry, mathematics, and life skills. This realization fueled her resolve to propagate scientific knowledge inclusively. After relocating to Chennai, she initially joined the Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training but soon realized her passion lay in educating young minds. She transitioned to Babaji Vidhyashram, where she began experimenting with combining formal and non-formal educational methodologies. In 2022, she introduced model rocketry as a co-curricular activity for Grade 11 students, integrating it with the physics curriculum. This initiative has evolved to include design thinking, where students design and test model rockets using software and fabricate them for practical analysis. By comparing hypothetical and experimental results, students gain hands-on research experience. Encouraged by the success, the activity has now become part of the Grade 12 curriculum as an investigatory project for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. Expanding her innovative teaching, she combined her passion for cricket with physics. Last year, she initiated a study on cricket pitches in terms of material science as part of investigatory projects. Collaborating with the physical education department, she incorporated sports into physics lessons, creating a dynamic learning environment.

Throughout her journey, she credits three figures—Rahul Dravid, Albert Einstein, and Kishore Kumar—for teaching her tolerance, passion, and resilience. Their influence continues to guide her in both her professional and personal pursuits. Ms. Pravin’s philosophy of perseverance is reflected in her belief: “No dream is ever chased alone,” a sentiment she attributes to Rahul Dravid. Her dedication to innovative education and her ability to inspire students position her as a leading figure in physics education, paving the way for future generations to explore science with curiosity and confidence. 

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