Background
Swaminathan, Monkombu Sambasivan was born on August 7, 1925 in Tamil Nadu, India. Daughter of M.K. and S. (Thangam) Sambasivan.
Swaminathan, Monkombu Sambasivan was born on August 7, 1925 in Tamil Nadu, India. Daughter of M.K. and S. (Thangam) Sambasivan.
Bachelor of Science, Tranvacore University, India, 1945. Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Coimbatore Agricultural College, Madras University, 1947. Associate, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 1949.
Doctor of Philosophy, University Cambridge, England, 1952. Doctor of Science (honorary), The Sardar Pater University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, 1970. Doctor of Science (honorary), The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad, 1971.
Doctor of Science (honorary), The Andhra University, Waltair, 1972. Doctor of Science (honorary), The Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, 1973. Doctor of Science (honorary), Great Britain Pant University, Pantnagar, 1974.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, 1975. Doctor of Science (honorary), Kumaon University, Nainital, 1975. Doctor of Science (honorary), Jodhpur University, 1976.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Burdwan University, 1976. Doctor of Science (honorary), Agra University, 1978. Doctor of Science (honorary), Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, 1978.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati, 1979. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 1980. Doctor of Science (honorary), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 1981.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Technology University Berlin, 1981. Doctor of Science (honorary), Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, 1982. Doctor of Science (honorary), Chandrasekhara Azad Agricultural University, Kanpur, 1983.
Doctor of Science (honorary), University Wisconsin, Madison, 1983. Doctor of Science (honorary), Delhi University, 1984. Doctor of Science (honorary), University The Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1984.
Doctor of Science in Technology (honorary), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, 1985. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Mangalore, 1986. Doctor of Science (honorary), Ohio State University, Columbus, 2004.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University, Sri Nagar, 2005. Doctor of Science (honorary), Iowa State University, 2005. Doctor of Science (honorary), Shanumgha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, 2005.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Sathyabama Deemed University, 2005. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Kalyani, 2006.
Teacher, researcher, research administrator Central Rice Research Institute Cuttack, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 1954-1972. Director general Indian Council Agricultural Research, 1972-1979. Secretary Government India, 1972-1979, secretary to India Ministry Agriculture and Irrigation, 1979-1980, acting deputy chairman Planning Commission, 1980, member Agriculture, Rural Development, Science and Education Planning Commission, 1980-1982.
Director general International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines, since 1982. Vice chairman technical advisory committee Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, 1971-1977, Protein-Calorie Advisory Group United Nations, 1972-1977. Chairman first quinquennial review International Rice Research Institute, 1976.
Chairman United Nations Advisory Committee on Science and Technology, for Development, 1980-1983, chair in ecotechnoligy United Nations Educational. President International Federation Agricultural Systems for Development, 1976-1983. Chairman, board trustees International Council Research in Agroforestry, United Kingdom, 1977-1982.
Independent chairman Food and Agriculture Organization Council, Rome, 1981-1985. Member science and tech.a dv. committee tropical diseases research World Health Organization, 1983-1985. Honorary vice president World Wildlife Fund, Geneva, since 1985.
President International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Geneva, 1986-1990. General president Indian Science Congress, Waltair, 1976. President SV International Congress Genetics, New Delhi, 1983, World Wide Fund Nature.
Member National Commission on Agriculture, 1971-1977. President Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, Indian National Science Academy(Silver Jubilee Commemoration medal 1973), Royal Society London, Third World Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences India (honorary), Swedish Seed Association(honorary), National Academy of Sciences Italy (honorary, foreign), National Academy Agricultural Sciences (president), Royal Society Arts, London Linnean Society. Member National Academy of Sciences United States (foreign associate 1977), All-Union Academy Agricultural Sciences Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (foreign), Royal Swedish Academy Agriculture and Forestry (foreign), National Academy Arts and Sciences (honorary, foreign).
Married Mina Bhoothalingam Swaminathan, 1955. Children: Soumya, Madhura, Nitya.