ANU has bestowed an Honorary Doctorate on world-renowned chemist and scientist Professor Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra (CNR) Rao.

The Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, is in recognition of his contribution to solid-state and materials chemistry, nanoscience, and for his leadership in science and technology in India and in developing countries.

Professor Rao is the National Research Professor, Linus Pauling Research Professor and the Honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), which he founded in 1989.

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Rao has served as Director of the Indian Institute of Science and as Chairman of the Science Advisory Council of the Prime Minister of India and the Union Cabinet.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young AO said Professor's Rao's contributions to materials and solid-state chemistry and nanoscience are deep and broad.

"As one of the earliest practitioners of the subject, CNR Rao has emerged as probably the most accomplished solid-state and materials chemist today," Professor Young said.

"It is creditable that he has accomplished so much work of high impact from India, by creating the necessary infrastructure and facilities, and often working without an adequate supply of electricity and water.

"He has built departments and institutions of great quality, trained a large number of chemists and physicists, and been intimately involved in the growth of modern solid-state and materials chemistry. Rao is one of the leaders in chemistry in the world today, and is the most noted and cited chemist from the developing world."

Professor Rao has published more than 1,600 papers in refereed scientific journals and co-authored/co-edited 45 monographs.

He has received more than 50 major international and national recognitions, including the Albert Einstein Gold Medal from UNESCO, the Royal Medal from the Royal Society of London, Dan David Prize, Marlow Medal for his contributions to Materials Chemistry and Nanomaterials.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences, Foreign Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Founding Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences.

He is a Foreign Member of many Academies around the world and is now a Corresponding Member of the Australian Academy of Science. The President of India conferred on him the highest civilian honour, "Bharat Ratna" (Jewel of India), in 2014 for his contributions to science