Awards

Mainly for plant pathological investigation in India by young researchers below 50 years.

Prof. K.M. Kaveriappa, Former Professor and Head, Department of Applied Botany, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore, Karnataka

About Prof. K.M. Kaveriappa
Prof. Kandrathanda Monnappa Kaveriappa hails from Virajpet, Kodagu District, Karnataka. After his early education in Virajpet, he earned a BSc (Botany, Zoology and Chemistry), an MSc (Botany), and a PhD (Plant Pathology) from the University of Mysore, Mysore. He made substantial contributions to downy mildew diseases of sorghum in Karnataka. He served as a faculty member in the Department of Biosciences (1971-1986) at the University of Mysore/Mangalore University. Under his able guidance, the Department of Applied Botany was on track during 1987 at Mangalore University, followed by his long service of up to 35 years. He has guided 20 doctoral students in the fields of aquatic mycology, plant pathology, forest ecology, plant tissue culture, plant biodiversity and conservation. He also served in the capacity of Deputy Registrar, Registrar and Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University. He visited the United Kingdom under the Nuffield Foundation Administrative Fellowship during 1984 to assess administration patterns in British universities. As a Fulbright Fellow, he visited the University of Tennessee during 1994 and carried out micropropagation of dogwood (Cornus florida). Besides conducting several national and international symposia, he was instrumental in carrying out major research pertaining to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Karnataka Power Corporation, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, Indo-Norwegian Environment Program, the MacArthur Foundation of the United States and International Plant Genetic Resources of Malaysia. He developed an arboretum on the Mangalore University campus (35 ha) with support from the MacArthur Foundation, which houses about 250 endangered and endemic plant species from the Western Ghats. He was instrumental in establishing the Vijaya Bank Medicinal Garden on the Mangalore University campus. He was an expert nominee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the University Grants Commission, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the convener of the Government of Karnataka Coastal Agenda Task Force (CATF) and the Executive Director of the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Bangalore. He is an inspiring personality for the younger generation in the fields of mycology, biodiversity, and nature conservation.

Award Instituted by: Dr. Kandikere R. Sridhar, Former Professor, Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore, Karnataka.