Mirle Krishne Gowda Surappa received his B.Sc degree from Mysore University in 1970 and joined the Indian Institute of Science ( IISc), Bangalore. From where he obtained B.E in Metallurgy, M.Sc and Ph. D degrees from the Mechanical Engineering in the years,1973, 1976 and 1980 respectively. He worked at then Regional Research Laboratory in Trivandrum for two years. Thereafter he worked at Drexel University (USA), Cavendish Laboratory (UK), and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Luassane during the period 1981-87. He joined the department of Metallurgy at IISc in the year 1987 as an Assistant professor and became full Professor in 1998. He was also Secretary, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology ( 2004-2009). He is the founding Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar ( Punjab)
Academic and Research Achievements: Surappa has made seminal R and D contributions in the field of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC). For over two decades he has been engaged in research in a broad range of issues relating to processing, microstructure-property correlations and applications development of MMCs based on light alloy matrices. For the first time he developed an inexpensive method for the fabrication of ceramic particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites by foundry technique (stir cast process). This key innovation paved the way for mass production of cast aluminum matrix composites (Al MMC) and a variety of engineering components at affordable cost. Major MMC producers acknowledge the stir cast process developed at the Indian Institute of Science as an Indian innovation. More recently he has developed a novel method for the fabrication of "Metal-ceramic nano composites by in-situ pyrolysis of polymer precursors in the liquid melt". This path breaking development heralds new paradigm in the processing of nano scale ceramic particles dispersed composites in bulk quantities.
Other Contributions: Surappa as Secretary of the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (2004-2009) played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing several Science and Technology based initiatives, in the areas of water and waste management, Natural Resource Data Management, Science education for the benefit of people of Karnataka . Under his stewardship KSCST implemented “Karnataka State Spatial Data infrastructure Project”(KSSDL). As President of Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi( BGVS) for Karnataka State he was instrumental in creating awareness on sanitation, inculcating scientific temper and capacity building by organizing large number of camps, street plays, workshops throughout the State of Karnataka.
Award and Honours: He was conferred with Prof. Rustom Choksi Award for Excellence in Research in Science and Engineering for the year 2007 by the Indian Institute of Science. He is the recipient of MRSI - ICSI Superconductivity and Materials Science Prize for the year 2007 by the Materials Research Society of India and METALLURGIST OF THE YEAR Award for the year 1998. He received Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in the area of Science and Technology for the year 2006 by the Government of Karnataka. He was visiting Professor to Sir M. VISVESWARAYA Chair Professor at the University of Mysore, during the year 2003-2004. He is the Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering.
