Dr. Ashokkumar Veeramuthu from Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district has once again put India on the global research map for the third year in a row! The environmental scientist has been named among the World’s Top Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier Publishers for 2023, 2024, and now 2025, a rare hat-trick that only a handful of Indian researchers have achieved.
But what makes his journey truly special is where it began, in the misty hills of Nilgiris, where he studied in a government school and saw firsthand how poor waste management and water scarcity affected daily life. Those early experiences shaped his curiosity about how science could offer real, everyday solutions.
After completing his PhD from the University of Madras in 2013 and postdoctoral research in Malaysia and Taiwan, Dr. Ashokkumar now heads the Centre for Waste Management and Renewable Energy at Saveetha University (SIMATS), Chennai. He’s also a visiting professor in Thailand and South Korea, collaborating with over a dozen global institutions.
His research focuses on turning “waste into wealth” from converting food waste into biofuels, using microalgae for renewable energy, to creating new ways to recycle plastic. In short, he’s proving that waste isn’t just a problem, it’s an opportunity waiting to be tapped.
Beyond the labs and papers, his work holds real meaning for local communities battling pollution and resource shortages. By linking innovation with social impact, Dr. Ashokkumar is inspiring a new generation of scientists especially those from small towns to believe that sustainable change can begin anywhere.
His story is a reminder that when science meets purpose, even waste can shine bright on the world stage.