Dr. Gillani retired as Principal Research Scientist at NASA-AL National Space Science & Technology Center and Professor of Atmospheric Science at University of Alabama in Huntsville after 15 years of service (1995-2010). Prior to that, he was Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL, 1974-92) and of Atmospheric Science at NC State University (1993-95). During his academic career, he also spent sabbatical periods at DOE’s Brookhaven National Lab, EPA’s National Environmental Research Lab, and TVA’s Environmental Research Center. His research focus throughout his academic career was on Air Quality. From 1984 to 1992, he served as US Delegate to NATO’s Commission for the Challenges of Modern Society. He has also served on the Science Committees of several major US environmental measurement and analysis programs.
Dr. Gillani is a devout Muslim of Indian ethnic origin and was born and raised in Tanzania, then completed high school (GCE A’Level) in England, and proceeded to the USA for his higher education, first at Harvard (AB cum laude, 1967) and then at WUSTL (DSc, 1974).
Currently in retirement, Dr. Gillani is Founder/President of The PYAR Foundation for children in distress around the world, VP of the UN-affiliated International Association of Educators for World Peace, and is also active in interfaith and social justice causes. He is also involved in the creation of the new Institute of Global Harmony in India, where he expects to join the Administration soon. He is grieved by the gross misinformation of Americans about Islam, and works passionately to counter Islamophobia through education. He has also developed a model of Islamic Humanism (individual human development to the fullest potential based on the Quranic concept of human being), which serves as the basis for his own life, with a focus on cultivation of spirituality and love for God,and service to all beings in God’s creation, especially those in need.
Ismailimail 