Chanakya University’s Academic Leadership Visit to the United States 2025 marked a significant milestone in its mission to bridge continents and build knowledge. The high-level delegation, led by Dr. S. Somanath, Chancellor and former Chairman of ISRO, along with Prof. Yashavantha Dongre, Vice-Chancellor, and Prof. Chetan Singai, Dean of the School of Law, Governance and Public Policy, embarked on an extensive academic tour across the East and West Coasts of the United States. The visit aimed to foster academic collaborations, explore research partnerships, and engage with global scholars and institutions to advance interdisciplinary learning and innovation.
The East Coast Trip, held from late September to early October 2025, began in Boston at Northeastern University, where Dr. Somanath delivered a powerful lecture titled “Chandrayaan-3: Turning Setbacks into Breakthroughs.” He reflected on India’s journey from the disappointment of Chandrayaan-2 to the triumph of Chandrayaan-3, highlighting how resilience, perseverance, and innovation have shaped India’s space exploration story. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the delegation met with Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan, Provost of MIT, and Prof. Julie Shah, Head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Discussions centered around the future of higher education, artificial intelligence, human–robot collaboration, and the potential for joint research between MIT and Chanakya University. Dr. Somanath and Prof. Dongre also interacted with MIT students from the AeroAstro department, inspiring them to view science as a bridge between nations.
The team’s engagements at Harvard University were equally enriching. At the Harvard Astrophysics Department, Dr. Somanath shared insights into India’s scientific journey, while at Harvard Business School, the delegation met with Prof. V. G. Narayanan, Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education, to explore opportunities for collaboration in online learning and executive education. Meanwhile, Prof. Chetan Singai visited the historic Harvard Coop, where he engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Aroon Manoharan from Suffolk University on cooperative models of governance, digital innovation, and participatory education.
At Princeton University, Dr. Somanath delivered a lecture on leadership and India’s space journey, emphasizing resilience, innovation, and vision. The visit also included interactive discussions with students and faculty, fostering cross-cultural academic dialogue. The delegation then travelled to New York, where they participated in a roundtable at NYU Tandon School of Engineering with senior faculty including Dr. Juan de Pablo, Prof. Nikhil Gupta, and Prof. Sundeep Rangan. The discussions explored collaborative research in aerospace, wireless communication, and emerging technologies, with a focus on building capacity and institutional partnerships. During their stay in New York, the team also attended a special event at the Consulate General of India, where Dr. Somanath held a fireside chat with Prof. Kaushik Sengupta of Princeton University. The conversation delved into India’s achievements in space exploration and the importance of education, teamwork, and women’s participation in scientific leadership.
Continuing to Washington, D.C., the Chanakya delegation visited Johns Hopkins University, where Dr. Somanath delivered a distinguished lecture as part of the Neuroscience Postdoctoral Career Guidance Series. His talk, “The Changing Higher Education Landscape in India,” outlined how India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is transforming curriculum design, pedagogy, and research frameworks. The visit concluded at the University of Maryland, where Dr. Somanath and Prof. Dongre presented Chanakya University’s vision of interdisciplinary education and global collaboration, paving the way for potential partnerships in research and innovation.
The West Coast tour, held from October 7 to 13, 2025, began at San Diego State University (SDSU) with a seminar by Dr. Somanath on “India’s Lunar Mission and the Rise in Space Explorations.” The event offered students and researchers a unique opportunity to engage with one of India’s foremost space scientists. The delegation then met academic leaders at the University of Southern California (USC) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to discuss collaborative programs in science, law, and policy. In the Bay Area, Chanakya University organized a public program and visited Stanford University, where discussions focused on integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with contemporary educational frameworks to promote sustainable and holistic learning. The visit concluded at the University of Florida, where the delegation participated in the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Deliberations, exploring how science and innovation can contribute to solving global challenges.
A special highlight of this tour was the announcement that Dr. S. Somanath had been elected as an International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Class of 2025: one of the world’s highest professional distinctions in the field of engineering. The citation recognized his leadership and engineering excellence in making India the first country to reach the Moon’s south pole and advancing the frontiers of space technology. This recognition served as a testament to his lifelong contribution to science and education.
Through this academic leadership visit, Chanakya University reaffirmed its commitment to global engagement and intellectual exchange. Each interaction, whether at Harvard, MIT, Princeton, NYU, or Stanford, opened new avenues for collaboration, research, and cross-cultural learning. The visit not only strengthened Chanakya’s global presence but also advanced its mission to combine Bharatiya wisdom with global perspectives.