Academician from Odisha gets Emeritus Professor title in Bangkok

Bhubaneswar: Eminent academician and geographer from Odisha Prof. Jayant Kumar Routray was chosen to get Emeritus Professor status at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok.

He becomes the first Odia and among few Indians to achieve the prestigious status at a leading international educational institution in Bangkok.

Recently, Prof Routray has retired from the AIT as the Professor of Regional and Rural Development Planning, and Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management in the Department of Development and Sustainability School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

Even after retirement, he was conferred with an honour to become Emeritus Professor till the rest of his life.

He will receive the title of Emeritus Professor at the 130th AIT Graduation Ceremony scheduled to be held at Bangkok on December 14.

“The award was approved in the recognition of his continuous distinguished service as Professor at AIT, outstanding international professional status, as well as significant academic contributions to the institute through teaching, research, professional work and community service,” the communiqué sent by AIT to Prof Routray said.

The approval was made by the AIT Board of Trustees at its meeting held on August 30 this year.

Prof Routray, a resident of Bhubaneswar, is a registered planner and Fellow of the Institute of Town Planners (India), Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (Institute of British Geographers), London; Life Member of many academic and professional societies including the Society of International Development (SID). The eminent geographer is also a member of many world-renowned institutions and organisations.

Having more than 38 years of experience in teaching and research, he had served as external examiner of many doctoral theses of leading Indian universities. During his career, he has graduated 150 Master’s, M.Phil and 27 Doctoral students under his guidance and supervision, and has accomplished about 150 publications (books, book chapters, and research papers in national, regional and international journals).