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Published By : Chinmaya Dehury | November 19, 2025 7:23 PM
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Bhubaneswar, Nov. 19: Prof. Pradipta Kishore Dash, eminent researcher and first Vice-Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA), passed away here on Wednesday morning. He was 84.

An eminent researcher and academic, Prof. Dash had obtained his B.E. and M.E. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and did his Ph.D at the Regional Engineering College (presently NIT), Rourkela. He had his Post-Doctoral education at the University of Calgary, Canada.

He was awarded Doctorate of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence from the Utkal University in 2003.

Prof. Dash, who worked as Professor at the NIT, Rourkela for nearly three decades, visited the University of Washington, Seattle, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, University of Manitoba, University of New Brunswick, Multimedia University, Malaysia, National University of Singapore and Memorial University, Canada as a Visiting Professor. He also worked as a visiting research engineer with ABB, Switzerland and served as a Professor at the University of Telecom, Kuala Lumpur.

Prof. Dash has been recognized as one of the top 10 active researchers in the area of energy in India for his research contribution by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and figured in the list of top 2 per cent scientists of the world prepared by Stanford University.

After the University Grants Commission granted the status of Deemed to be University to Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan in July 2007, Prof. Dash was appointed its first Vice-Chancellor. He occupied the post briefly before deciding to focus on his research work.

Prof. Dash has either published or presented 520 research papers in reputed International Journals or in conferences and guided more than 75 Ph.D scholars in Engineering and Computer Science.

A Fellow of National Academy of Engineering, Prof. Dash was awarded the Samanta Chandrasekhar Award in Engineering by the Government of Odisha and Odisha Bigyan Academy in 1990. He was also presented the prestigious Biju Patnaik Award for excellency in scientific research in 2010 by Odisha Bigyan Academy.

Prof. Dash is survived by his wife and two sons who are abroad.

Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, Founder President of SOA and a student of Prof. Dash, deeply condoled his passing away saying it was a huge loss for the fraternity of researchers and the academic world.

SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda paid glowing tributes to Prof. Dash saying his single minded devotion to research had greatly impacted his students and fellow researchers.

A condolence meeting was held in the university during the day which was attended by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nanda, Chairman of SOA’s International Advisory Board, Prof. Damodar Acharya, senior officials, faculty members and other employees.

Those present included Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Registrar, Prof. Prasanta Kumar Patra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, Mr. Bhisma Charan Das, Joint Registrar, Mr. Pramod Kumar Panda, Chief Administrative Officer, Prof. Ayasa Kanta Mohanty, Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences and other officials.