DESI talk: Dr. S. Somanath

Hello Terps!

We are honored to invite you to a special lecture by Dr. S. Somanath, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and current Chancellor of Chanakya University, India. Under his visionary leadership, India achieved one of its most historic milestones—the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon’s south pole, making India the first nation to reach this frontier.

This event is hosted by DESI (Develop, Empower, and Synergize India) UMD, the most prominent Indian graduate student organization at the University of Maryland.
📅 Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Venue: Michael Antonov Auditorium, Brendan Iribe Center
RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/HWvCkVb9sAeCxZWm7

Dr. Somanath’s career of nearly four decades at ISRO encompasses landmark contributions to India’s space program, from the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and GSLV Mk-III (LVM3) to the pioneering Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. His extraordinary achievements have been recognized with numerous national and international honors, including election as an International Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

We warmly encourage you to join us for this exceptional opportunity to hear directly from one of the foremost architects of India’s space exploration journey. His insights promise to inspire not only the scientific community but all those committed to advancing knowledge and innovation.

With regards,
Team DESI UMD
University of Maryland
Mihirkumar Narendrakumar Prajapati <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>