Academy Recognizes N. Chandrasekaran as Life Governor
The New York Academy of Sciences is proud to recognize the Tata Sons Chairman as its most recent Life Governor.
Published December 5, 2025
By Nick Fetty
Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Chandra), Chairman of India-based Tata Sons, joins a distinguished group of changemakers who serve as Life Governors for the Academy.
The Academy’s Board of Governors approved Chandra’s appointment earlier this year. He was presented with a certificate recognizing the honor by Academy President and CEO Nicholas B. Dirks during a ceremony in Mumbai, India on December 5.
Prior to his appointment as a Life Governor, Chandra served on the Academy’s Board of Governors where he lent his expertise to help guide the Academy on strategic and business matters. With more than three decades of science and leadership experience, he’s overseen revenues that have exceeded $100 billion across more than 100 Tata operating companies. He promotes the “One Tata” strategy, which focuses on themes like simplification, scale, synergy, and sustainability.
This recognition adds to a long list of accolades for Chandra which also include:
- Padma Bhushan (2022): one of India’s highest civilian awards
- Légion d’Honneur (2023): France’s highest civilian award
- Honorary Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (2025)
In collaboration with Tata Sons, the Academy launched the Tata Transformation Prize in 2023. The Prize recognizes and supports the implementation at scale of high-impact research that drives innovation in scientific disciplines of importance to India’s societal needs and economic competitiveness. Tata Sons also support the Academy’s Shaping Science podcast.
Learn more about the Tata Transformation Prize and check back for more updates from the 2025 ceremony!
