Kshitish Chandra Sen obtained DSc (1925) from University of Allahabad. He worked as Biochemist, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, Kumanon (1929-31); Head, Division of Animal Nutrition Research, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar (1936-43); and also First Director, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (1944-57).

Academic and Research Achievements: Sen initially did some work on colloid chemistry. He gave a new interpretation of Shulze-Hardy law. He developed a general theory of ion antagonism. Later, he turned his attention to animal nutrition. He found that negative balance in calcium in cattle due to their being fed rice straw owned to the alkaloids produced through ingestion of large quantities of oxalates in the roughage. Water-washing and treatment with dilute alkali, he found, removed most of the oxalates. This became an accepted procedure for improving the nutritive value of straws in general and paddy straw in particular. Sen and coworkers found that the degeneration of draught cattle in certain parts of India was due to fluorine intoxication. They also found that the productive life of animals could be prolonged by many years if aluminum sulphate is fed as a supplement. Studying the effect of feeding iodinated casein on the yield and composition of milk as well as on the growth of calves, his students brought to light the zero practical value of supplementary feeding. He also authored the book Animal Nutrition Research in India (Macmillan, 1953).

Other Contributions: Dr Sen served as Member of the Indian Standards Institution and INSA Council (1967-69). He was Editor of the journals Indian Journal of Dairy Science and Indian Dairyman.

Awards and Honours: Dr Sen was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad.