Dr Pravat Kumar Mohapatra (corresponding author) obtained PhD (Plant Physiology) from University of Adelaide. He joined School of Life Science, Sambalpur University and superannuated as professor in 2008. Post-superannuation, he served as CSIR and UGC emeritus scientist. His epoch-making research on rice yield potential earned him distinctions in India, Australia, China, Japan and IRRI, Philippines.Dr Ramani Kumar Sarkar obtained PhD (Botany) from University of Calcutta. He joined Agricultural Research Service, ICAR and superannuated as Principal Scientist, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack. Post-superannuation, he was emeritus scientist till 2020. He achieved reputations in India, CIMMYT, Mexico and IRRI, Philippines for research on drought, salinity, and submergence tolerance.Dr Debabrata Panda was Scientist-B at Rubber Research Institute of India before joining faculty at Central University of Odisha, Koraput in 2012. His research interests include physiology of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. He contributed to collection, evaluation and popularization of indigenous wild crops strengthening tribal food security.Dr Ekamber Kariali joined School of Life Sciences, Sambalpur University as Lecturer in 1997 and obtained PhD in Life Science (Plant Physiology). He became Professor in 2017. He specializes in rice tiller dynamics. He made significant contributions to biodiversity of indigenous rice cultivars and their utility for mankind.
