Prof. Zahid Husain Khan is a distinguished physicist with a rich academic background and extensive experience in higher education. He completed his higher education at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Aligarh, India, earning a B.Sc. in 1967, an M.Sc. in 1969, an M.Phil. in 1971, and a Ph.D. in 1975. In 1976, he joined Jamia Millia Islamia, a prominent Central University in New Delhi, as a Lecturer in Physics, where he dedicated nearly four decades of his career, eventually becoming a Professor of Physics in 1994.
Prof. Khan’s research interests are diverse and encompass Optics & Spectroscopy, Lasers and Photonics, Materials Characterization, and the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. His scholarly contributions include over 60 published research papers in peer-reviewed international journals and the supervision of 15 Ph.D. scholars, highlighting his commitment to academic excellence and mentorship.
Administrative Roles: Throughout his tenure at Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Khan has held several significant administrative positions, including Head of the Department of Physics, Dean of Students’ Welfare, and Registrar of the University. His expertise in university regulations was further recognized when he served as Chairman of the Standing Committee for Act, Statutes, and Ordinances from 2007 to 2014.
From 1998 to 2014, he was the Director of the FTK Centre for Technology at the university, where he played a pivotal role in the development of advanced ICT facilities. His contributions to higher education and technology integration led to his appointment by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, to the Standing Committee for the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT) from 2009 to 2014. Additionally, Prof. Khan served as Honorary Secretary of the Delhi Education Society from 1998 to 2007 and as Vice-President from 2008 to 2015.
International Engagement: Prof. Khan’s international experience includes being a DAAD Fellow at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich (1980-1981) and Free University Berlin (1981-1982), as well as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, in 1987. His contributions to Indo-German educational relations earned him the title of Honorary DAAD Advisor from 2006 to 2009.
In 2015, UNESCO appointed him as the National Contact for India in recognition of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015). He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the International Working Group on Ibn Al-Haytham. From 2016 to 2020, he served as the Vice-President of the Ibn Al-Haytham LHiSA (Light, History, Science, and Applications) International Society, headquartered in Paris, France. Since the inception of the International Day of Light in 2018, he has been co-opted as the National Contact for India, and in 2021, UNESCO honored him as a Light Alumni and a Founding Signatory of the Trust-in-Science Campaign for his efforts in promoting this initiative.
Current Engagements: Currently, Prof. Khan serves as an Advisor to the Zaheer Science Foundation in New Delhi, a think tank dedicated to science and technology policy, innovation, science popularization, and ICT in education. He also served as the Foundation’s Vice-Chairman in 2022. Since 2020, he has been associated with Vigyan Prasar, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, as a member of the SCoPE in the Urdu Core Committee. His contributions to science communication include authoring several articles for Vigyan Prasar’s bilingual monthly newsletter, “Dream 2047,” its Urdu counterpart, “Tajassus,” and the science monthly magazine “Vigyan 2047,” as well as the “Urdu Science Monthly” magazine.
Prof. Khan has traveled extensively across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific, delivering invited talks and participating in various thought leadership forums. His involvement in various committees at Indian universities underscores his commitment to academic excellence and effective governance models.
Languages Spoken: Prof. Khan is proficient in English, Urdu, and Hindi, allowing him to communicate effectively in diverse academic and professional settings.
Areas of Expertise:
- Physics (Optics & Spectroscopy, Lasers and Photonics, Materials Characterization)
- ICT in Education
- University Administration and Governance
- Science Communication and Policy
Prof. Zahid Husain Khan’s career reflects a profound dedication to education, research, and the advancement of science and technology, making him a respected figure in the academic community.