Devotta, Sukumar was born in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. He got married in 1979 and has two children (a daughter and a son). He has four grandchildren (two granddaughters and two grandsons).
He spent his early life in Chennai and finished his school in St. Paul's High School, Vepery with Engineering as a major subject. He completed B.Tech. Chemical Engineering. (1971), M.Tech. Chem. Engg. (1973), Ph.D. (1978) from the A>C> College of Technology, University of Madras. He did his PhD under the tutelage of Prof. K. Chandrasekharan. He also obtained M.Sc. Chem. Engg. (1984) from the University of Salford, England, when he was doing his post-doctoral research in the University of Salford during 1979-84.
Dr. Sukumar Devotta served as a Lecturer at A. C. College of Technology, University of Madras between 1977 and 1979. Later he worked as a GE & British Gas Senior (Post Doctoral) Research Fellow at the University of Salford in England from 1979 to 1984. After his return to India, he pursued his research career as a Scientist in various capacities (Sci. EI to Sci. G during 1984-2003). He also held various positions as the Head of Engineering Divisions (1993 - 1998), Process Engineering Unit (1997 - 1999) and Process Development Division (1999-2003), National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Later he served as the Director of CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur (2003-08).
Chemical Process Engineering & Development
Environmental Science & Engineering (Wastewater and Environmental Impact Assessment)
Industrial Energy Conservation
Alternatives to CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs & Natural Refrigerants
Global Environment Policy and Protocols (Montreal Protocol, Climate Change and related to chemicals)
Sukumar Devotta