Raj Rajagopal appointed member of British Council

Non-Resident Indian scientist Dr Raj Rajagopal is among the 16 new members appointed to the British Council for Science and Technology.

The appointments were made by Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday night and represent a wide range of experience from the scientific community, business and charities.

"Science and technology are a foundation stone for future UK competitiveness and a better quality of life throughout the world. We are committed to excellence in UK science so that the health and wealth of the nation can benefit from new technology and scientific breakthroughs," Blair said announcing the appointment.

"I have today appointed an outstanding team from a wide range of backgrounds in science, social science, engineering and technology for the new CST. I am confident that they will provide Government with the necessary strategic advice to help us build a society that is confident about science and can gain from all that it offers for the future."

The Council of Science and Technology is the government's top-level advisory body on science, engineering and technology policy.

Rajagopal is the Chief Executive of BOC Edwards and an Executive Director of the BOC Group plc, producer of industrial and medical gases and equipment and services to the semi-conductor. He chairs the Institute of Electrical Engineer's manufacturing sector panel.

Besides Rajagopal, others appointed were Prof Sir John Beringer, CBE (Commander of the British Empire), Professor Geoffrey Boulton, OBE FRS FRSE, Prof Janet Finch, CBE, Andrew Gould, Professor Wendy Hall, CBE, Dr Hermann Hauser, Dr Dieter Helm, Professor Alan Hughes, Dr Sue Ion OBE, Dr Rob Margetts CBE, Sir Paul Nurse, Sir Keith Peters, Professor Michael Sterling, Professor Kathy Sykes and Dr Mark Walport.