CANACONA
It is not often that a local from the coastal village of Agonda is elevated to a prestigious position at an elite education institution in India.
And so, when scientist Prof. Rodney Fernandes was promoted to the prestigious Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) position at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, there was jubilation in the entire village and Canacona.
Dr Mithil Fal Desai, assistant professor in the Dept. of Chemistry at Shri Mallikarjun & Chentan Manju Desai College, Canacona, commented that this honour and milestone, besides being a personal achievement to Prof. Fernandes, marks a significant moment for the Goan academic and scientific community.
“His elevation to the HAG scale is a testament to his remarkable journey of hard work, dedication, and outstanding contribution to the field of chemical sciences,” stated Dr. Fal Desai.
EDUCATION
Prof. Rodney Fernandes did his schooling from St Anne’s Institute, Agonda, and HSSC from the Govt. Higher Secondary School (Canacona).
He then encountered narrow misses, and unusual twists and turns, in his academic journey.
“I initially decided to pursue medicine and become a doctor after completing HSSC. I applied to the Goa Medical College but missed getting into the merit list by just 1.5 marks,” Prof. Fernandes told The Goan.
“I then sought admission at the Goa Dental College. But I quickly realised that dentistry isn’t of my interest and took a drop for that academic year.”
“I then decided to pursue chemical science and was interested in seeking admission at Chowgule College. But since my batch-mates were already one year ahead of me in this college, I sought admission at Dhempe College in Panaji, where I completed my graduation (B.Sc.) and secured second rank, all Goa.
He went on to complete his M.Sc. degrees from Goa University, before pursuing his PhD from the prestigious National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune.
His postdoctoral research took him across the globe, with stints at Tohoku University (Japan), Freiburg University (Germany), and independent position in UNAM (Mexico City).
Prof. Fernandes returned to India to join IIT Bombay as an Assistant Professor in 2007, rising through the ranks to become Associate Professor (2011) and Full Professor (2015).
His recent promotion to HAG Professor, which is a coveted recognition reserved for only a handful of India’s top academic minds, cemented his place among the country’s most respected scientific leaders.
Fernandes has served in key administrative and leadership roles. He was Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs at IIT Goa (August 2017 to July 2018) and briefly held the charge of Acting Director of IIT Goa (January 2018).
Prof. Fernandes is a Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (FMASc, 2015), a Life Member of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, the Chemical Research Society of India, the Indian Society of Chemists and Biologists, and the Indian Association of Chemistry Teachers.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Prof. Fernandes has received numerous awards and honours, the most recent being the Bronze Medal by the Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) 2023 for his significant research contributions in chemical sciences—a recognition bestowed upon by the most impactful researchers in the country.
In the same year, he was also the recipient of the Research Dissemination Award 2022 from IIT Bombay for his excellence in communicating complex scientific ideas effectively to broader audiences.
He received the Dr. Rajappa Award in 2000 for the Best Research Paper in Organic Chemistry, followed by the Keerthi Sangoram Endowment Award for Best Research Scholar of the Year (2001) and the International Patent Award - Silver Medallion (2002), all from the NCL Research Foundation.
He was recognised with the INSA Young Scientist Medal Award (2004) and the coveted Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship award, the same year.
In 2017, he was invited to deliver the 4th S. C. Bhattacharya Memorial Lecture, a mark of high distinction in academic circles.
Professor Fernandes was honoured with the Departmental Award for Excellence in Teaching at IIT Bombay for the year 2019-2020.
In 2019, he received the ‘Outstanding Reviewer Award’ by the Chemical Communications Journal of RSC Publishing, for his commitment to maintaining the highest standards of scientific publishing and refereeing. He has published over 152 international journal research publications, 8 patents and over 10 book chapters besides editing a full book. Besides, 24 students have earned PhD under his guidance, and several are continuing at present.
ACTIVITIES
Prof. Fernandes has actively participated in workshops and conferences across the globe, delivering over 125 invited lectures in national and international conferences and workshops.
He has conducted many carrier orientation workshops talks for colleges in Maharashtra and Goa.
When he is not engaged in academic work, Prof. Fernandes likes trekking and fishing as outdoor activity.
“I like crime dramas, suspense and adventure stories. I also like doing carpentry, masonry and plumbing work and even have a collection of tools,” said Prof. Fernandes.
He also said he gets engrossed with chemistry literature work when indoors.
GOAN CONNECT
Prof Fernandes said he is a true Goan by heart and spirit, with deep rooted love for his village of Agonda.
“I was a very shy boy, always kept away from any stage presence. But today its opposite. With time and need, this stage fear has been conquered,” said Prof. Fernandes.
“I give a lot of importance to my elder sister (Ruzai) for the discipline she inculcated in us. I thank my mother for the sacrifices she made and all the siblings for supporting and helping me to take up higher studies. It was worth the struggle all the past years. I thank the villagers of Agonda for the love and appreciation they bestowed on me all time.”
Asked for his message to young Goans, Prof. Fernandes said: “I would advise Goan students to come out of comfort zones and take up higher studies anywhere possible. They must prioritize their goals and work hard to achieve them. It may take a little longer, but many things are achievable. Many are capable of this”.
“If possible, go back to Goa and take up the crucial jobs to help next generations. I wish Goa was a State with special status so that the land and culture belongs to the Goans. But this is my personal opinion.”
