Dr S.K. Sood is Professor and Dean Life Sciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He obtained his M.Sc. (1974) and M.Phil. (1976) from Himachal Pradesh University and Ph.D. (1981) from Nagarjuna University, Guntur, specializing in Plant Systematics and Embryology.  For his post-doctoral, he underwent specialized training in Ethnobotany.  He has had a brilliant academic career (triple gold medallist) followed by over 30 years of teaching and conducting research in Botany at postgraduate as well as research levels. His current major interests are in the theory and practice of systematics, flora of North-West Himalaya, ethnic tribes and conservation research.