National Chemical Laboratory scientist AJ Varma gets award

Senior scientist at the National Chemical Laboratory, AJ Varma, has been awarded the prestigious Vasvik award for chemical sciences and technology for the year 2008.

Varma has made pioneering contributions to the area of cellulose chemistry and chemistry of biodegradable polymers.

The Vasvik research awards are given to promote industrial research, science and technology in India. The awards are presented in categories to scientists and researchers who have excelled in their particular fields.

Varma is on the editorial board of journals, Carbohydrate Polymers and Trends in Carbohydrate Research. He has more than 100 research publications to his credit, besides 10 patents.

Varma developed a process for physico-chemical fractionation of sugarcane bagasse to cellulose, hemi celluloses and lignin for converting agricultural waste to value-added polymers and chemicals. This has been transferred to industry.

Varma is currently president of the Society of Polymer Science’s Pune chapter. He has delivered lectures in many countries.