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{{short description|Indian biochemist and activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Suman Sahai
| name = Suman Sahai
| image = <!-- just the name, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing [[brackets]] -->
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| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place =  
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| nationality = [[India]]n
| citizenship = India
| citizenship = India
| education = [[Ph.D.]], 1975
| education = [[Ph.D.]], 1975
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| awards = [[Order of the Golden Ark]],  [[Borlaug Award]], [[Padma Shri]]
| awards = [[Order of the Golden Ark]],  [[Borlaug Award]], [[Padma Shri]]
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'''Suman Sahai''' is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[activist]] and the founder of [[Gene Campaign]].


== Career ==
'''Suman Sahai''' is an Indian [[activist]] and the founder of [[Gene Campaign]].
Sahai got a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[Indian Agricultural Research Institute]]<ref name="intoday1">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/How+I+made+it:+Suman+Sahai/1/95201.html |title=How I made it: Suman Sahai : Aspire |work=[[India Today]] |date=2010-04-29 |accessdate=2013-03-29}}</ref> in 1975. She then worked at the [[University of Alberta]], [[University of Chicago]], and the [[University of Heidelberg]], where she did her [[habilitation]] in [[human genetics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldacademy.org/view/nomination/3916 |title=Dr Suman Sahai: Curriculum vitae |publisher=[[World Academy of Art and Science]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6FpNPa4sP?url=http://www.worldacademy.org/view/nomination/3916 |archivedate=2013-04-12 |accessdate=2013-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Web of Science]] shows that Sahai has published over 40 articles. They are mostly on policy issues dealing with [[genetic engineering|genetically-modified organisms]]. Her articles have been cited over 150 times and she has an [[h-index]] of 7.<ref>[[Web of Science]], accessed 2013-03-29.</ref> She is director of the [[non-governmental organization]], Gene Campaign.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nj7215-1002a |title=Making a difference |year=2008 |last1=Basu |first1=Paroma |last2=Qiu |first2=Jane |last3=Powell |first3=Kendall |journal=Nature |volume=455 |issue=7215 |pages=1002–3 |pmid=18938259}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nbt1102-1069 |title=Poor crop management plagues Bt cotton experiment in India |year=2002 |last1=Jayaraman |first1=K.S. |journal=Nature Biotechnology |volume=20 |issue=11 |pages=1069 |pmid=12410241}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/361291a0 |title=Indians protest against US-led gene bank |year=1993 |journal=Nature |volume=361 |issue=6410 |pages=291 |pmid=8426645 |last1=Dickson |first1=D}}</ref>


== Awards ==
==Career==
Sahai obtained a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[Indian Agricultural Research Institute]]<ref name="intoday1">{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20100510-how-i-made-it-suman-sahai-742784-2010-04-28 |title=How I made it: Suman Sahai : Aspire |work=[[India Today]] |date=2010-04-29 |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref> in 1975. She then successively worked at the [[University of Alberta]], [[University of Chicago]], and the [[University of Heidelberg]], where she obtained her [[habilitation]] in [[human genetics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldacademy.org/view/nomination/3916 |title=Dr Suman Sahai: Curriculum vitae |publisher=[[World Academy of Art and Science]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412160910/http://www.worldacademy.org/view/nomination/3916 |archive-date=12 April 2013 |access-date=2013-04-12 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> According to the [[Web of Science]], Sahai has published over 40 articles, mostly on policy issues relating to [[genetically modified organism]]s, which have been cited about 200 times, giving her an [[h-index]] of 9.<ref>[[Web of Science]], accessed 2021-04-16.</ref> She is director of the [[NGO]], Gene Campaign.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nj7215-1002a |title=Making a difference |year=2008 |last1=Basu |first1=Paroma |last2=Qiu |first2=Jane|author2-link=Jane Qiu|last3=Powell |first3=Kendall |journal=Nature |volume=455 |issue=7215 |pages=1002–3 |pmid=18938259}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nbt1102-1069 |title=Poor crop management plagues Bt cotton experiment in India |year=2002 |last1=Jayaraman |first1=K.S. |journal=Nature Biotechnology |volume=20 |issue=11 |pages=1069 |pmid=12410241|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/361291a0 |title=Indians protest against US-led gene bank |year=1993 |journal=Nature |volume=361 |issue=6410 |pages=291 |pmid=<!--none--> | bibcode = 1993Natur.361..291J |last1=Jayaraman |first1=K.S. |doi-access=free }}</ref>
 
==Awards==
* [[Order of the Golden Ark]], 2001<ref name="intoday1"/>
* [[Order of the Golden Ark]], 2001<ref name="intoday1"/>
* [[Borlaug Award]], 2004<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/01/31/stories/2004013106441200.htm |title=Subba Rao, Suman Sahai get Borlaug award |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2004-01-31 |accessdate=2013-03-29}}</ref>
* [[Borlaug Award]], 2004<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/01/31/stories/2004013106441200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507031931/http://www.hindu.com/2004/01/31/stories/2004013106441200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-05-07 |title=Subba Rao, Suman Sahai get Borlaug award |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2004-01-31 |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]], 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364 |title=Press Information Bureau English Releases: Padma Awards Announced |publisher=Government of India |accessdate=2013-03-29}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]], 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364 |title=Press Information Bureau English Releases: Padma Awards Announced |publisher=Government of India |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref>


== Scandal ==
==Plagiarism==
In April 2013 it was shown that Sahai committed [[plagiarism]] in her habilitation thesis.<ref name=LJ>{{cite journal |last=Köppelle |first=Winfried |title=Heidelberger Habilitations-Humbug |journal=Laborjournal |date=2013-04-09 |issue=4 |pages=14–17 |language=German |issn=1612-8354 |oclc=85726582 |url=http://www.biotech-europe.de/editorials/726.lasso |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6FyZ4VTKp?url=http://www.biotech-europe.de/editorials/726.lasso |archivedate=2013-04-18 |access-date=2013-07-07 |url-status=dead }} [http://www.ask-force.org/web/India/Koeppelle-Heidelberg-Habilitation-Humbug-english-20130418.pdf English translation]</ref> She had submitted this thesis to the University of Heidelberg in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://katalog.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/titel/2547898 |title=Sahai, Suman: Elucidation of the role of neurotransmitter glutamate in normal and abnormal mental function |publisher=University Library Heidelberg |work=HEIDI |accessdate=2013-04-12}}</ref> She was also accused of presenting herself as being or having been a [[professor]] at that University. She never actually had such a position.<ref name=LJ /> The University of Heidelberg confirmed on 14 April 2013, that plagiarism had taken place. The university also said that Sahai has no right to call herself a professor of the University of Heidelberg. Her habilitation has been revoked.<ref name=LJ /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/ShowSingleNews.176.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6772&cHash=493fc2a4bdbf14a5532b76df14417abd |title=Stellungnahme der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg |archivedate=2013-04-29 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6GF0gCou9 |publisher=UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg |accessdate=2013-04-29}}</ref>
In April 2013, Sahai was shown to have committed [[plagiarism]] in her habilitation thesis,<ref name=LJ>{{cite journal |last=Köppelle |first=Winfried |title=Heidelberger Habilitations-Humbug |journal=Laborjournal |date=2013-04-09 |issue=4 |pages=14–17 |language=de |issn=1612-8354 |oclc=85726582 |url=http://www.biotech-europe.de/editorials/726.lasso |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510010709/http://www.biotech-europe.de/editorials/726.lasso |archive-date=10 May 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} [http://www.ask-force.org/web/India/Koeppelle-Heidelberg-Habilitation-Humbug-english-20130418.pdf English translation]</ref> which had been submitted to the University of Heidelberg in 1986.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://katalog.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/titel/2547898 |author=Suman Sahai |title=Elucidation of the role of neurotransmitter glutamate in normal and abnormal mental function |publisher=University Library Heidelberg |via=HEIDI |year=1986 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> In addition, she was accused of presenting herself as being or having been a [[professor]] at that University, without ever actually having occupied such a position.<ref name=LJ /> On 14 April 2013, the University of Heidelberg confirmed that plagiarism had taken place, that Sahai has no right to call herself a professor of the University of Heidelberg, and that in consequence Sahai had agreed to renounce her ''[[venia legendi]]''.<ref name=LJ /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/ShowSingleNews.176.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6772&cHash=493fc2a4bdbf14a5532b76df14417abd |title=Stellungnahme der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg |archive-date=24 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424120242/http://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/ShowSingleNews.176.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6772&cHash=493fc2a4bdbf14a5532b76df14417abd |publisher=UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg |access-date=2013-04-29 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, Sahai's short bio at the [[World Academy of Art and Science]] still lists her as "Professor of Genetics, University of Heidelberg".<ref>{{cite web |title=Suman Sahai |url=https://members.worldacademy.org/author/SSahai/ |website=Member Directory |publisher=World Academy of Art and Science |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>


== References ==
==See also==
* [[Scientific misconduct]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Sahai, Suman
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Indian activist
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahai, Suman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahai, Suman}}
[[Category:20th century births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Activists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biologists]]
[[Category:Plagiarism]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian chemists]]
[[Category:Indian actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian biologists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian chemists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:Academic scandals]]
[[Category:Anti-GMO activists]]
[[Category:Heidelberg University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian agriculturalists]]
[[Category:Indian biochemists]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Indian women biochemists]]
[[Category:People involved in scientific misconduct incidents]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]

Latest revision as of 08:30, 12 February 2026


Suman Sahai
CitizenshipIndia
EducationPh.D., 1975
Alma materIndian Agricultural Research Institute
OccupationFounding director
OrganizationGene Campaign
AwardsOrder of the Golden Ark, Borlaug Award, Padma Shri

Suman Sahai is an Indian activist and the founder of Gene Campaign.

Career[edit | edit source]

Sahai obtained a Ph.D. from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute[1] in 1975. She then successively worked at the University of Alberta, University of Chicago, and the University of Heidelberg, where she obtained her habilitation in human genetics.[2] According to the Web of Science, Sahai has published over 40 articles, mostly on policy issues relating to genetically modified organisms, which have been cited about 200 times, giving her an h-index of 9.[3] She is director of the NGO, Gene Campaign.[4][5][6]

Awards[edit | edit source]

Plagiarism[edit | edit source]

In April 2013, Sahai was shown to have committed plagiarism in her habilitation thesis,[9] which had been submitted to the University of Heidelberg in 1986.[10] In addition, she was accused of presenting herself as being or having been a professor at that University, without ever actually having occupied such a position.[9] On 14 April 2013, the University of Heidelberg confirmed that plagiarism had taken place, that Sahai has no right to call herself a professor of the University of Heidelberg, and that in consequence Sahai had agreed to renounce her venia legendi.[9][11] As of 2023, Sahai's short bio at the World Academy of Art and Science still lists her as "Professor of Genetics, University of Heidelberg".[12]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "How I made it: Suman Sahai : Aspire". India Today. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Dr Suman Sahai: Curriculum vitae". World Academy of Art and Science. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Web of Science, accessed 2021-04-16.
  4. ↑ Basu, Paroma; Qiu, Jane; Powell, Kendall (2008). "Making a difference". Nature. 455 (7215): 1002–3. doi:10.1038/nj7215-1002a. PMID 18938259.
  5. ↑ Jayaraman, K.S. (2002). "Poor crop management plagues Bt cotton experiment in India". Nature Biotechnology. 20 (11): 1069. doi:10.1038/nbt1102-1069. PMID 12410241.
  6. ↑ Jayaraman, K.S. (1993). "Indians protest against US-led gene bank". Nature. 361 (6410): 291. Bibcode:1993Natur.361..291J. doi:10.1038/361291a0.
  7. ↑ "Subba Rao, Suman Sahai get Borlaug award". The Hindu. 31 January 2004. Archived from the original on 7 May 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Press Information Bureau English Releases: Padma Awards Announced". Government of India. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Köppelle, Winfried (9 April 2013). "Heidelberger Habilitations-Humbug". Laborjournal (in Deutsch) (4): 14–17. ISSN 1612-8354. OCLC 85726582. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. English translation
  10. ↑ Suman Sahai (1986). Elucidation of the role of neurotransmitter glutamate in normal and abnormal mental function. University Library Heidelberg. Retrieved 12 April 2013 – via HEIDI.
  11. ↑ "Stellungnahme der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg". UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Suman Sahai". Member Directory. World Academy of Art and Science. Retrieved 22 August 2025.


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