Dr. V.L. Chopra: Educated at the University of Delhi, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the University of Edinburgh (UK), Chopra began his research career at the IARI in 1958. His areas of research have been: Cytogenetics, Mutagenesis, Genetics of Host-Pathogen Relationship, Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement. He has published extensively in these domains in prestigious, refereed journals. He has held key positions in the Govt. of India including that of Secretary (DARE) & Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Member, Planning Commission; and in academia as B.P. Pal National Professor at the IARI. In the international research arena, Chopra has been on  Boards of Trustees of IRRI, ICRISAT & CYMMIT and a Member of the Science Council of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research( CGIAR ). He is elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy. Indian Academy of Science, National Academy of Science India, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), Italy & European Academy of Science, Arts & Humanities, Paris. Among 13 major Awards conferred on Chopra are: Padma Bhushan by Govt. of India, Aryabhata Award by INSA, Dr. B.P. Pal Memorial Award by National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Outstanding Achievement in Research in Science and Technology Award by FICCI & the Borlaug Award. He has been President of the National Academy of Agricultural Science and International Genetics Federation. Six Universities have conferred D.Sc (h,c) on Chopra.