Ludhiana: Dr VP Sethi, professor and former head of mechanical engineering department at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been conferred with the prestigious “Dr MS Swaminathan Award,” in recognition of his outstanding achievements and exemplary contributions in the field of mechanical engineering, particularly in advancing engineering solutions for agricultural and allied sciences. Dr Sethi, received the award at Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI) Shimla, held as part of the 13th International Conference on “Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Allied Sciences for Sustainable Himalayan Ecosystem”, from March 18 to 20.The honour is awarded to scientists who have significantly and consistently performed in bringing visible change in transforming and adding knowledge to various stakeholders particularly agriculture.During the last more than three decades, Dr Sethi has done commendable work and contributed enormously for scientists and researchers of the next generation through high impact publications, particularly an International book on “Greenhouse Engineering: Software-driven Design and Modelling for Optimal Microclimate Control”.It is pertinent to mention that Dr Sethi has already been enlisted amongst the elite top 2% best scientists’ list at global level by Stanford University, USA since 2019 till date due to his impactful and productive research contributions with high citations in the areas of solar energy, greenhouse design, thermal modelling, micro-climate control, patented hybrid-hydroponics, heat transfer etc, officials said. Besides, Dr Sethi has published more than 100 research and review articles in national and international peer reviewed journals, and attended and handled several international conferences and projects as keynote or invited speaker and consultant in China, Thailand and Dubai besides working as Visiting Research Faculty at North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA and as Guest faculty at University of Guelph, Canada in the past.As head of the mechanical engineering department, Dr Sethi introduced two new teaching programmes including PG Diploma in Robotics and Mechatronics in Agriculture in 2024-25 and M.Tech in Robotics and Automation in 2025-26.PAU vice- chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal and other officials commended Dr Sethi for the achievement and encouraged him to carry on with the teaching and research activities in developing AI-based smart and digital technologies for futuristic smart agriculture.
