Professor M. K SURAPPA former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University (2018-2021), Chennai and former Founding Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (2009-2015). Previously he was the Dean Faculty of Engineering (2016-17) and Honorary Secretary, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (2004-2009) and President of Bharath Gyn Vigyan Samithi (Unit of people’s science movement) during the period 2001-2009. He is currently Honorary Distinguished Professor for Life at the University of Mysore. Prof Surappa received his B.Sc. degree from Mysore University and went on to complete his B.E (Metallurgy), M.Sc. and PhD. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He worked as Research Associate at Drexel University in the US, Cavendish Laboratory at University of Cambridge, UK and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. Prof. Surappa returned to Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1987 as Assistant Professor and rose to become Professor in the year 1998. Prof. Surappa has made outstanding R&D contributions to the Science and Technology of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). For over three decades, he has pursued many innovative investigations on synthesis, processingmicrostructure-property correlation and application development of MMCs based on light alloy matrices. These include: (a) Development of “Stir Cast Process” for the fabrication of aluminium matrix composites. Process developed by Prof. Surappa at the Indian Institute of Science is often hailed as an Indian Innovation by MMC producers across the world. (b) Development of innovative technique for synthesis of metal-ceramic nano composites by in-situ pyrolysis of polymer pre-cursors in the liquid melt. He has carried out all his research work entirely in India. Prof. Surappa has published 100 research papers. He has secured one US and 3 Indian patents. In his role as a Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, IISc Bangalore, Prof Surappa was highly instrumental in stimulating, invigorating and amplifying the quality and rigor of the evaluation process of the research output by scholars. As a Founding Director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Prof Surappa played a very inspiring and a key role in catapulting a new young institution into the Top 10 of the country (NIRF Rankings 2015-16, MHRD, Government of India). As an Honorary Secretary of the Karnataka State Council for Science & Technology, Prof Surappa’s inspiring leadership had led to the Council being recognized as the top performer across the 31 State Councils in the country. Prof Surappa’s penchant towards creating societal benefits through Science & Technology, led to a noteworthy and a stellar implementation of a Rainwater Harvesting System in over 23,000 Government Schools across the length and breadth of the State of Karnataka. As a President of the Bharath Gyan Vigyan Samithi (Unit of ‘Peoples Science Movement’) Prof Surappa catalysed teams to create awareness on sanitation & hygiene and eliminating the myth behind the ostensible miracles. As Vice Chancellor of Anna University, Prof Surappa worked passionately to transform Anna University into high impactful institution. His efforts to restore the legacy and revive the University to its preeminent position through good and transparent governance system is unparalleled. In the recent years he has been examining and studying the factors contributing to sub-optimum performance of higher educational institutions in India and has been keenly understanding the eco system required to be put in place to make Indian Institutions to be more impactful