Who is Ashok Gadgil? Indian-origin physicist in the US using IIT and Berkeley expertise to tackle global water and energy crises

Ashok Gadgil was born in 1950 in Mumbai, India, a city bustling with energy and contrasts. Even as a child, he was captivated by the mechanics of the world—why things worked the way they did and how science could solve everyday problems.

This curiosity shaped his academic path, leading him to earn a physics degree from the University of Mumbai. Gadgil’s early exposure to real-world challenges inspired him to think about science not just as a theoretical pursuit, but as a tool for meaningful change.

IIT Kanpur and Berkeley: Forging the scientist

Eager to deepen his understanding of physics, Gadgil pursued an M.Sc. at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, one of India’s premier technical institutions.

He then crossed continents to the University of California, Berkeley, earning both an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in physics. While Berkeley offered him the freedom to explore advanced scientific questions, Gadgil’s ambition extended beyond academic accolades—he envisioned applying scientific principles to solve pressing human problems, particularly in developing countries.

Hands-on development work in India

After completing his Ph.D., Gadgil returned to India for five years to work with a nonprofit organisation.

This experience immersed him in the realities of communities struggling with unsafe water, energy shortages, and sanitation challenges. He realised that scientific knowledge alone was insufficient—solutions had to be affordable, practical, and scalable to truly make a difference. These formative years shaped his lifelong commitment to development-focused engineering.

Bridging research and real-world impact

Back at Berkeley, Gadgil became a distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering, teaching graduate courses such as “Design for Sustainable Communities” and “Technology and Sustainability.”

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he led research on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainable technologies, exploring ways to make homes safer, reduce energy use, and protect communities from environmental hazards.

As director of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division and faculty director of the Development Impact Lab, he mentored students to tackle large-scale societal problems with practical, innovative solutions.

Life-changing innovations

Gadgil’s most celebrated contributions are technologies that directly improve lives:

Recognition and global impact

Gadgil’s work has earned worldwide recognition, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2013. He has authored over 213 research papers, cited more than 3,800 times, and continues to push the boundaries of development engineering. His career is a testament to the power of combining scientific rigor with empathy, turning cutting-edge physics into practical solutions that improve millions of lives.

A legacy of science and service

From Mumbai classrooms to Berkeley laboratories, from equations on a blackboard to stoves and water systems in villages, Ashok Gadgil exemplifies how education, innovation, and social commitment can intersect. His journey shows that science, when applied thoughtfully, can become a tool for global transformation, improving lives and creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.