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For eight-year-old Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Moon suddenly felt a little closer when he saw lunar rocks at the American Center in Chennai. The experience sparked a curiosity that stayed with him for decades, shaping a remarkable career spanning science, technology, research and public policy.
More than five decades later, Panchanathanโs journey has taken him from Chennai to the forefront of US science and technology. The former director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has now been named the 2026 Arthur M Bueche Award recipient by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
According to Arizona State University, he is the first Indian American to receive the honour. The award recognises contributions to science and technology policy, technological development, and collaboration among industry, government and universities.
In 1969, eight-year-old Panchanathan visited the American Center in Chennai with his father, where he saw Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo 11 mission. The experience sparked his interest in the science and engineering behind space exploration.
Born on June 24, 1961, he completed a BSc in Physics from the University of Madras in 1981, a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in 1984 and an MTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1986.
He later moved to Canada and earned a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Ottawa in 1989, according to his official Padma Awards citation.
Panchanathanโs professional career has spanned research laboratories, universities and government institutions. His research has explored areas including machine learning, human-centred multimedia computing, haptic interfaces and ubiquitous computing.
At Arizona State University (ASU), he founded the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing, which focused on assistive technologies and devices.
The Government of Indiaโs Padma Awards citation says he has published close to 500 research papers and mentored more than 150 graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research engineers and research scientists.
Panchanathanโs influence eventually extended beyond academic research. In 2014, he joined the US National Science Board, becoming the first Indian American to serve on the board, according to NSF-related accounts. He later chaired its Committee on Strategy and Budget.
At ASU, he also served as executive vice president of the Knowledge Enterprise and chief research and innovation officer, overseeing the universityโs research and innovation activities.
His next major transition came in 2020, when he became the 15th director of the US National Science Foundation. He served in the role until April 2025.
During his tenure at the NSF, Panchanathan led the agency through a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic and the race to develop vaccines.
One of the notable developments during his tenure was the creation of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the NSFโs first new directorate in more than three decades.
The directorate was designed to help move scientific and technological discoveries towards practical applications, with a focus on economic progress, national security and societal impact.
During his NSF leadership, the agency supported collaborations involving Indian institutions and US researchers in areas including artificial intelligence, data science and advanced wireless technologies.
The Arthur M Bueche Award is not focused on a single invention or research discovery. Instead, it recognises contributions to the broader relationship between science, technology, government, industry and universities.
The NAE cited Panchanathan for his leadership in promoting fundamental science, technology and policy, advancing translational research and expanding opportunities across the US.
Panchanathan was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2024. He is also the first person from Arizona to receive the Bueche Award, according to Arizona State University.
The Bueche Award comes a year after Panchanathan received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to science and engineering. His citation highlighted his work in research, education, innovation and technologies improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Since returning to Arizona State University, he has focused on areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and higher education. In April 2026, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego appointed him to lead the cityโs quantum strategy.
Panchanathanโs journey stretches from a childhood encounter with Apollo 11's Moon rocks in Chennai to leadership of one of Americaโs major science agencies.
The 2026 Bueche Award adds another chapter to a career that has connected research, technology, education and public policy across India and the US, a journey that began with a childโs curiosity about what humans could achieve in space and grew into decades of work exploring what science and technology can achieve on Earth.
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