Purnendu Ghosh is the Executive Director, Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur. Prior to this he was Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He worked at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland; University of Melbourne, Australia; National Research Centre for Biotechnology (GBF), Braunschweig, Germany. He has taken a lead role in augmenting bioprocess engineering and biotechnology activities in the country as a member of several Task Forces of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. He is currently the Chief Editor of Publications of Indian National Academy of Engineering. He is a columnist of a leading newspaper group. Besides technical publications, he has written books of different genre.
Baldev Raj is the Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. His pursuits in basic science and its interdisciplinary application have found expressions of merit and distinction in materials science and technologies, cultural heritage, medical technologies providing solutions to challenges in varied fields of energy, water, healthcare, and manufacturing. He is known for his leadership and experience to overcome the barriers between academic research and industry. His work on non-destructive evaluation and different aspects of materials is well recognised. He is the Fellow of 4 Academies of Sciences and Engineering in India, German Academy of Science, The World Academy of Sciences, International Medical Sciences, and Member of Indian Institute of Metals.