Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon

Research principally in the field of cosmic ray physics. Earlier work was significantly responsible for establishing K(mu3), K(pi2), and K(epsilon3) decay modes and for elucidation of other properties of the strange particles. Led a program for developing a dependable facility using large plastic balloons, to carry heavy (ton) payloads for long duration level flights at altitudes over 120,000 feet in India. It is presently one of the major international facilities used by groups from all over the worls. Later work has been on deep underground studies in India to determine particle intensities up to very great depths, establishing the feasibility of detecting natural neutrino interactions, first observations of these, and the first major dedicated experiment in the world, to look for nucleon decay with lifetimes greater than 10(3) years, with important observations on nucleon decay candidate events, limits on magnetic monopoles, etc. Has been at the highest levels of government in the administration and management of a range of science activities and programmes in India.