Dr. S. R. Shine is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, India. His research spans various aspects of computational fluid mechanics, with a primary focus on heat transfer and fluid flow in space applications, including the cooling of rocket thrust chambers, cryogenic two-phase flows, and micro nozzles. He also investigates smart healthcare and medicine by developing bio-fluid and heat transfer models for coronary and brain arteries, and human thermoregulation models. Dr. Shine has extensively studied the hemodynamics of the arteries in the circle of Willis (CoW) to identify potential initiation sites for cerebral aneurysms.
He is the principal investigator for several significant space-related projects, including developing human thermoregulation models and analyzing satellite thrusters. His contributions to the field have resulted in over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Dr. Shine also serves as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow and ASME Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy. Dr. S. Sunil Kumar got his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1993 and subsequently joined the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1995. He held many important positions before retiring as the Deputy Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, ISRO in 2024, heading the Advanced Propulsion Research activities.
He is responsible for the development of Electric Propulsion Systems. He was instrumental in finding solutions to many critical technical problems that arose during the PSLV and GSLV programs. He has also made significant contributions towards the development of complex Cryogenic engines and science missions namely, Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission. Considering his significant contributions, several performance and merit awards were conferred on Dr. Kumar, including the prestigious ISRO Merit Award. His main research areas include Cryogenic propulsion, two phase flow, thermal contact conductance, radiation in participating media and electric propulsion. He has more than 80 International research publications and has guided many research scholars through their PhD. He also serves as a reviewer for many international journals and has delivered several invited talks in National and International forums.
He is the founder President of the Indian Society for Heat and Mass Transfer Kerala Chapter and is a member of several national and international bodies.