Hemant Lagvankar


	Profile
	Hemant Lagvankar
	(M.Sc., B.Ed.) Science Communicator and Educational Consultant

	Profile Overview:
	Hemant Lagvankar is a nationally recognized science communicator, author, and educational consultant based in Maharashtra, India. Over the past three decades, he has worked at the intersection of science education and public engagement through diverse platforms, including books, multimedia, teacher training, and broadcast media. Passionate about making science accessible and engaging, he has turned science communication into his lifelong professional mission. His pioneering contributions to science communication have earned him several prestigious awards, including the National Award for Science Communication (2013) by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST, Govt. of India and personal felicitation by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2011.

	Publications & Content Creation:
	• Hemant has authored 40 popular science and educational books, five of which were selected by the Director of Education, Maharashtra State, Pune in their official list of the best books. He has written over 1,000 articles on science-related topics published in leading newspapers, weeklies, and magazines.
	• As part of his commitment to innovative science education, he has created 24 educational multimedia CDs focused on making scientific concepts accessible and engaging. He also worked as a writer and editor for the Vishwakosh (Encyclopedia) published by the Government of Maharashtra and contributed as a panel writer for the D.El.Ed. (Diploma in Elementary Education) course developed by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)—the world's largest open schooling institution.
	• From 2012 to 2021, he served on the editorial board of “Patrika”, a renowned Marathi magazine published by the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, further enriching the field of vernacular science outreach.

	Educational Development & Training:
	• Hemant Lagvankar has been a member of the Maharashtra State Curriculum Development Committee since 2012, helping shape science education policies and practices. He played a key leadership role as the Principal Investigator for the Secondary School Science Teachers’ Training Programme under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), conducted by the Department of Education, Maharashtra, during 2015–16 and 2017–18.
	• In 2020, he was appointed as a Teacher Developer by the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK). Since then, he has conducted intensive two-day science pedagogy workshops for over 170 batches, reaching more than 5,300 science teachers across multiple Indian states.
	• In total, he has delivered more than 125 keynote speeches and presentations, and has conducted over 750 workshops on themes like: constructive approaches to science learning, active learning techniques in science, use of simple and low-cost learning aids, action research projects etc.

	Science Communication via Media:
	• Hemant has been active in science broadcasting since 1989, contributing to over 275 programmes on All India Radio as a scriptwriter, producer, narrator, and expert advisor. His voice and vision have reached millions through radio serials and programmes covering diverse scientific themes.
	• He also contributed significantly to science education on television, including as a scriptwriter and presenter for programs aired by Balchitrawani, and as a Marathi language expert for six science serials produced by Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
	• In addition, since the year 2000, he has worked as a resource person and evaluator for the National Children's Science Congress, an initiative of the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST, Government of India, mentoring students and teachers alike in innovative scientific exploration.

	Awards and Recognitions:
	• National Award for Science Communication (2013) – NCSTC, DST, Government of India
	• Felicitation by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2011) – for excellence in science communication
	• Manoramabai Apte Puraskar (2012) – from Marathi Vidnyan Parishad
	• Adarsha Dombivlikar Puraskar (2012) – for the contributions in science outreach
	• Rotary Vocational Excellence Award (2014) – from Rotary Club of Dombivli City
	• Alumni Achievers' Award (2017–18) – from V. G. Vaze College, Mulund, for national-level science communication work