Awards

About Late Prof. M.S. Patil

Late Prof. M.S. Patil, born in 1940 in Maharashtra, pursued his education in chemistry and botany, earning his M.Sc. from the University of Poona. He began his research in mycology at Poona University in 1968 and later obtained his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Prof. S.D. Patil. His academic career spanned over 45 years, during which he taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students, specializing in fungal systematics and plant pathology. As Professor and Head of the Botany Department at Shivaji University, he introduced innovative courses such as sericulture and pest management, while fostering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment among students and faculty. Widely known as a "Living Encyclopaedia" for his vast interdisciplinary knowledge, Prof. Patil was not only an exceptional educator but also a prolific researcher. He published over 100 research papers and described numerous new fungal species and genera. His contributions extended beyond teaching; he guided more than 20 Ph.D. and M.Phil. students and engaged in active research collaborations with leading international mycologists. Even after his retirement, he remained academically active as a visiting professor and continued to organize conferences and faculty development programs. His simplicity, discipline, and unwavering commitment to research and education earned him deep respect and admiration from both students and colleagues. He maintained research collaborations with many prominent contemporary mycologists around the world through the exchange of materials, references, and scientific insights. His collaborators included Dr. I.R. Hall (New Zealand), Prof. Norman C. Schenck (USA), Dr. James M. Trappe (USA), Dr. R.W.G. Dennis (UK), Dr. R.F. Cain (Canada), Dr. K. Vánky (Germany), among others.

Award Instituted by:Prof. Anjali Patil, Head of the Department of Botany, Rajaram College (Government of Maharashtra), Kolhapur – 416004, India