MAE Professor receives Fulbright Scholar Award

Dr. Venkat Narayanaswamy from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship under the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Through the Fulbright, Dr. Narayanaswamy will pursue hybrid socio-technological research in India that aims to demonstrate a community informed research model to develop an indigenous forest fire warning system. The Fulbright will also enable deep collaborations with multiple academic institutions and stakeholders in India that will engender long-term relationships between NC State and various Indian academic and research institutions. These collaborations will help make fundamental scientific contributions to predict the initiation and spread of wildfires across various landscapes that have a strong relevance to both India and the United States.

Dr. Narayanaswamy is eager to foster new interactions and connections with local communities, and is intrigued by how the community input can help shape the research directions. Dr. Narayanaswamy is also thrilled about the commitment between the various stakeholders to form a cohort system between India and the United States to foster an organic exchange of ideas for wildfire management. 

The Fulbright Program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. As a Fulbrighter, Dr. Narayanaswamy will join the ranks of many distinguished program participants. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists and teachers. They include 61 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 76 MacArthur Fellows and thousands of leaders across private, public and non-profit sectors. NC State faculty have made a strong presence in these programs and awardees include faculty members across the different Colleges.