'Combustion Man' is powering a sustainable future with clean energy

IN the late 1990s, a young boy walked barefoot through paddy fields to reach Thattolikkara UP School, a modest Malayalam-medium institution in his village of Chombala, Vadakara.

- POOJA NAIR @ Kozhikode

Today, that same boy, popularly known as 'Combustion Man', is a globally recognised scientist pioneering sustainable fuel research and holds the prestigious title of trustee chair professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF)--a first for a Malayali.

Dr Subith Vasu's ground-breaking work in neutralising chemical weapons has catapulted him to international fame. His research became a key asset for the US department of defense, and his efforts were so significant that the United Nations featured his story in a documentary titled 'Combustion Man,' a name that has since become synonymous with his expertise in energy and combustion science.