Krishna Manda Venkata Apparao obtained the BSc from Utkal University and MSc (Physics) from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He then joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai as a Research Scholar and became Research Assistant in 1958. He obtained his PhD (1961) from the University of Rochester, and returned to TIFR in 1963 to continue research. He spent a sabbatical year (1968-69) at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory associated with the Harvard Observatory as a NASR Research Associate, and was elected as Associate of the Harvard Observatory. He worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass, USA (sabbatical year 1976-77) and at the Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville (1984-85). His final sabbatical (1996-2000) was spent at Pennsylvania State University at State College, USA. Subsequent to retirement, he was INSA Senior Scientist (1996-2000).

Academic and Research Achievements: Professor Apparao started his research career in the area of Space Physics and Particle Physics. He was involved in both experimental and theoretical studies. His discovery of the Helium three isotope in high-energy primary cosmic ray helium nuclei constituted his Ph D thesis. This finding gave an important clue to the origin of cosmic rays and triggered further work in several observatories to discover isotopes of several other elements in cosmic rays. At MIT, he changed his field of research to Astronomy and Astrophysics, in particular to the field of Celestial X-radiation. During his stay at MIT, he used a satellite to observe and find new celestial X-ray sources, and elucidate properties of these sources. He also worked on the radio and optical properties of X-ray sources using several US and European X-ray satellites.

Other Contributions: Dr Apparao authored the book, Composition of Cosmic Radiation, published by Routledge.