Ashok Kumar Shukla did his MSc (1968) from Kanpur University and PhD (1974) from IIT Kanpur. Subsequently, he worked as a Research Associate, IIT, Kanpur (1974-76). He was an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellow at the Technical University, Hannover, (1976-78); INSA-Royal Society Visiting Fellow, and EEC Senior Visiting Scientist, University of Oxford; RA Welch Foundation Visiting Fellow, University of Texas; Royal Society Visiting Fellow, University of Newcastle; Guest Researcher, ONRI, Japan, and Visiting Professor, University of Turku and Helsinki, CNR/TAE, Messina and Monash University, Melbourne. After his return from Germany, he worked at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore (1978-2003). During 2003-08, he was Director at Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. He is presently a Professor at Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, IISc, Bangalore.

Academic and Research Achievements: Shukla's researches relate to materials electrochemistry with emphasis on batteries, fuel cells, electrochemicals supercapacitors and solid ionics. He has published over 250 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and also has 14 patents to his credit.

Other Contributions: Professor Shukla is Associate Editor of the Journal of the Electrochemical Society and is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Bulletin of Materials Science and Electrochimica Acta.

Awards and Honours: Shukla won the MRSI-Medal (1993) and MRSI-ICSC Superconductivity and Materials Science Annual Prize (2006). He was also conferred the Vigyan Ratna Award by Council of Science and Technology, Government of Uttar Pradesh (2005-06). He is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad (2005).