VOI World Exclusive
When Dr. Daniel left Chennai in the early 1980s to pursue chemical engineering at IIT Delhi, the world of museums was nowhere on his horizon. What began as a traditional academic path would, over time, evolve into an extraordinary journey that merged chemistry, culture, and conservation across continents.
After completing his master’s at IIT Madras, Daniel secured a scholarship to study in Texas, setting him on an unexpected trajectory. His first professional assignment turned out to be far from a conventional lab job. Recruited as a conservation scientist at the Getty Trust in Los Angeles, he found himself using chemical principles to safeguard history itself.
At the Getty Conservation Institute, Daniel’s earliest project involved designing airtight museum display cases for Egyptian mummy-cases that could block oxygen and maintain low humidity to prevent bacterial decay. The work combined cutting-edge science with cultural preservation, and soon his designs were being used in museums in Egypt and elsewhere.
After five years in the United States, Daniel returned to India to conduct surveys of museums across the country and later in Southeast Asia. His expertise and growing network led to a new chapter at the Australian Museum in Sydney, where he spent 15 years moving from conservation research to leadership. There, he managed collections, outreach, and regional collaborations that took him to remote islands such as Vanuatu, Samoa, and Tonga.
Those travels reshaped his understanding of what a museum could be. “A museum in Paris is so different from one in Vanuatu,” he says, noting that each reflects its society’s values and resources. Eventually, he transitioned into consulting, working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, and several others around the world. He also served on the International Council of Museums, even being elected to its global board—a body that defines museum standards and ethics worldwide.
Reflecting on his unlikely career path, Daniel smiles at the serendipity of it all. “As a chemical engineer, you imagine joining a fertilizer company,” he says. “In my case, chemistry took me into a museum. When such opportunities come, the best thing is to experiment. If you enjoy it, you’ll grow dramatically.”
Today, Daniel continues to consult internationally while mentoring younger professionals in the museum and conservation space. His message, however, extends beyond museums. “There’s nothing like retirement,” he says. “Once you feel you’ve done well in your professional career, the best thing is to give back – follow your passion, contribute to society.”
He believes that meaningful work requires patience and persistence. “Anything like this takes time,” he adds. “You don’t start today and fly high next year. If you truly want to make a difference, give it at least five years.”
From the lecture halls of IIT to the archives of the Getty, Dr. Daniel’s story is one of curiosity, courage, and commitment – a reminder that science can be a bridge not only to innovation but also to culture, humanity, and legacy.
