Bengaluru: Distinguished Scientist Prof. S. Ayyappan has been appointed as the Chairman of Karnataka Science and Technology Academy (KSTA) for a three-year period.

The KSTA, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Science and Technology, was established by the Government of Karnataka in July 2005 under the Chairmanship of renowned Space Scientist and Padma Vibhushan awardee late Prof. U. R. Rao, who was also the former Chairman of ISRO.

The Karnataka Government, which appoints the Chairman and Members of the Academy once in three years, recently reconstituted the Governing Council and appointed Prof. Ayyappan as Chairman with 13 members comprising eminent educationists, renowned scientists and senior administrators, an official press release said.

Prof. Ayyappan is the former Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary to Government, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Manipur.