Purdue engineer to receive national honor

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A chemical engineering professor from Purdue University will be honored by President Barack Obama for his record of innovation.

Purdue says Rakesh Agrawal has been chosen to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The award is the highest honor for technological achievement offered by the White House.

Agrawal holds 116 U.S. patents, nearly 500 non-U.S. patents and has authored 93 technical papers.

A citation for the award recognizes him for “an extraordinary record of innovations” in electronic device manufacturing, liquefied gas production and the supply of industrial gases.

Agrawal is one of five recipients announced by the White House this week. He will receive the award later this year with other National Medal of Technology laureates during a White House ceremony.