Padma Venkatraman, now an American citizen, was born in Chennai, India. From an early age, she was interested both in the world of mathematical sciences and the world of literature. The two interests competed for many years of her life. Finally, she decided to concentrate on writing and cut back on science. Since 2004, she has worked part-time at the University of Rhode Island, and devoted a few days each week entirely to writing.
Padma Venkatraman completed her early education at The School, K.F.I., in Chennai; and went on to St. Michael's Academy to study science and mathematics. She spent a few weeks at Women's Christian College, a few years at St. Joseph's college, and many years at the College of William and Mary where she completed a PhD in oceanography, with a concentration in physical chemistry. She then worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Environmental Engineering department of Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering.
Science opened many doors and allowed Padma to have many wonderful job experiences, most notably as chief scientist of several scientific cruises at the Institut of Meereskunde in Kiel, Germany, as a researcher on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and as director of a school in England. It was not without regret that she gave up research, although she realized that writing was undoubtedly her first love.
Padma Venkatraman now has over a hundred popular science articles and poems to her credit, and over 20 published books. Her first novel, Climbing the Stairs, is scheduled for May 2008 release by Penguin-Putnam. The Albertosaurus Mystery: Philip Currie's Hunt in the Badlands was published in Summer 2006, and two books were released in Spring 2007: a young adult biography about the first female professional astronomer, Double Stars: The story of Caroline Herschel; and a collection of mathematical folktales, entitled, Mathematwist: Number tales from around the world.
The Deccan Herald