Dr. V. GANESAN currently working as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, is the recipient of Anna University National Award for Outstanding Academic for the Year 1997. He is the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, at Indian Institute of Technology Madras since October 2000 and was the Dean (Academic Research) at Indian Institute of Technology Madras between January 1998 to October 2000. He has so far published more than 225 research papers in national and international journals and conferences and has guided 20 M.S. and 26 Ph.D.s.

Among other awards received by him are the Babcock Power Award for the best fundamental scientific paper of Journal of Energy (1987), the Institution of Engineers Merit Prize and Citation (1993), SVRCET Surat Prize (1995), Sri Rajendra Nath Mookerjee Memorial Medal (1996), Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (1999), Automobile Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Automobile Engineers (India) (2001), Fellowship Award of the National Environmental Science Academy (2003).

He has authored several books including the first edition of Internal Combustion Engines, McGraw Hill International Publications, Gas Turbines, Computer Simulation of Four-Stroke Spark-Ignition Engines and Computer Simulation of Four-Stroke Compression-Ignition Engines and has edited several proceedings. He was formerly the Chairman of Combustion Institute (Indian Section) and is currently the Chairman of Engineering Education Board of SAE (India), besides being a member of many other professional societies.

Dr. Ganesan is actively engaged in a number of sponsored research projects and is a consultant for various industries and R&D organizations.

The author can be contacted at vganesan@acer.iitm.ernet.in.