Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India, has announced the appointment of its new director- Prof LS Shashidhara. 

Specialised in Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolutionary biology, Prof Shashidhara takes charge of the new position earlier held by Prof Satyajit (Jitu) Mayor.

Prof Shashidhara has been very involved in the promotion of science and science education and has had many experiments in this area, including working with the Ministry of Education on the training of high school and undergraduate teachers in adopting inquiry-based teaching methods.

Beyond conventional education and research, he has organised several career workshops for scientists in science journalism, science policy, climate education, administration and management. He has also served on the Board of IndiaBioscience from almost the very beginning, reflecting his commitment to the Life Science research community in India. 

A JC Bose National Fellow and an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), he has served in the past as Vice-President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and is the current President of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).