The Council

President	Dr Abdess Salem SAUMTALLY had a long and distinguished career in Research and Development at the Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute (MSIRI), where he was the Director from 2012 to 2021. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT), an apex body for sugarcane and the President of the Société de Technologie Agricole et Sucrière de Maurice. He is the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Mauritius since 2020. He holds a first degree in Microbiology from the University of Dundee, UK, an MPhil degree in Applied Biology from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Doctoral degree (PhD) from the University of Reading, UK.

First Vice-President	Professor Goolam MOHAMEDBHAI, GOSK, is the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mauritius. He holds a BSc (First Class Honours) and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Manchester, UK. He did his postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, under a Fulbright-Hays Award. He is the former Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, Ghana, and the former President of the International Association of Universities, Paris. He has also served on the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and was a member of the Governing Council of the United Nations University, Japan. He is the recipient of several doctorates and awards for his contribution to higher education in Mauritius, the Commonwealth, and Africa. He now operates as an independent consultant in higher education, with a special interest in Africa. He currently serves on several Boards associated with higher education in Africa.

Second Vice-President	Prof. Yashwantrao RAMMA holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Belarus State University. He is currently the Head of the School of Science and Mathematics at the Mauritius Institute of Education, a teacher training institute. Prof. RAMMA is actively engaged in research on the conceptual understanding of science at the primary level and physics at the secondary level. His research also encompasses technology integration in teaching and learning, as well as the development of critical thinking skills. He is a regular peer reviewer for various local and international journals and research projects and has published numerous articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed publications.

Immediate Past President and PRO	Dr Michael ATCHIA, a scientist and educator, curriculum developer, and writer, served for 5 years as international President of the Commission for Education of the International Union for Biological Sciences (IUBS)and is co-author of “Integrated Environmental Management” (UNEP/John Wiley, 1995), a publication that helped launch this new discipline. Locally, he served as president of the Association for Science Education (MASE), of the teacher's union SPSTU, of Action Civique in 1982, and from 1997 to 2003 as Director of Education at BEC; for service to the cause of environmental education, he received the "Tree of Learning" award of IUCN in 1995. He was the President of our Academy of Science and Technology(MAST) from 2019 to 2022 and is currently the Editor of its Newsletter. He has been a Programme Director at UNEP (Chief, Environmental Education and Training Unit) in Nairobi from 1986 to 1996, responsible during the same period for the “International Environmental Education Programme” of UNESCO/UNEP, active in over 100 member states. He has gained his professional experience in both developing countries (Africa, Asia, and South America, island states) and in Europe/North America/Australia. He is a graduate from these Universities: Calcutta (B.Sc with Distinction): London (BSc); Chelsea College of Science and Technology (Postgraduate diplomas in Microbiology, 1^st class); Institute of Biology (MIBIOL); Salford in Manchester, UK, (MSc, PhD, DSc).

Secretary MAST	Associate Prof Ravhee BHOLAH, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Science Education at the Mauritius Institute of Education. His primary research interests are in science/biology/health education, neuroscience or brain-based education, and education for sustainable development (ESD) including climate change. Additionally, he is a Fulbright and Higher Education Commission scholar actively engaged in research. Ravhee has published and reviewed numerous scientific papers for international peer-reviewed journals, books and conference proceedings. He is a member of various national committees and international professional bodies related to Science and Technology, as well as ESD.

Assistant Secretary MAST	Dr Asha DOOKUN-SAUMTALLY holds a BSc and an MSc degree from Newcastle University, UK, and a PhD from the University of Reading, UK. She is an experienced scientist in Plant Biotechnology with a wealth of experience in research and development formulation and management, having directed R&D in sugarcane biotechnology at the Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) for more than three decades. She held various positions of increasing responsibility at the MSIRI, including Biotechnologist, Head of Department, Research Manager, Principal Research Manager, Ag. Director and Director. She has served on several Boards and Committees locally and is currently the chairperson of the National Biosafety Committee, a Director of the Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Ltd and the CEO of the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI) of Mauritius. She is a member of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) and a councilor for Mauritius for this society.

Treasurer MAST	Prof (Dr) Ranjeet BHAGOOLI is a Professor of Marine Biology & Biological Oceanography at the University of Mauritius (UoM), an Adjunct Professor at Diponegoro University, Indonesia, and an Associate Fellow at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia. He holds an MSc in Biology, Chemistry, and Marine Science, and a PhD in Marine and Environmental Sciences from the University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. He was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Fellow at the University of Technology, Sydney / University of Tasmania, Australia, and the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science (RSMAS), Florida, USA, respectively. He leads the Pole of Research Excellence (PRE) in the Sustainable Marine Biodiversity Research Group at UoM. He has participated in several oceanic scientific cruises and expeditions on-board several research vessels such as Aurora Australis to the Antarctica, Dr Fridtjof Nansen to Saya de Malha and Nazareth Banks and S.A. Agulhas II to the Mascarene Plateau. He has so far published over 100 peer-reviewed international articles, international conference papers, and book chapters. He has successfully supervised 122 BSc (Hons), 34 MSc, 2 MPhil, and 9 PhD students’ research projects at UoM. His main research areas include corals and coral reefs, photobiology of seaplants and symbiotic marine invertebrates, marine biology and ecology, biological oceanography, marine technologies, and climate change-driven ocean warming. His work focuses mainly on coral biology and chlorophyll fluorescence. He was conferred the ICRS World Reef Award in 2018. He holds Fellow and/or Chartered Scientists status at several national and international bodies.

Assistant Treasurer and Past President	Dr Yousuf MAUDARBOCUS, After graduating, topping the D.I.C and M.Sc. lists, obtaining his Ph.D. in Physics, and working at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, Dr. Maudarbocus joined the University of Mauritius in 1974 and was instrumental in setting up the largest low- frequency radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, jointly with the Raman Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. He left the University of Mauritius, as Associate Professor and Head of Physics Department in 1988 to join the African Regional Centre for Technology (ARCT), a joint UNECA/AU regional organization based in Dakar, Senegal, as Director of Human Resources Development. After two years, he moved to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, where he was responsible for the programming, design, formulation, implementation and monitoring of technical cooperation projects using nuclear techniques in fifteen countries in Africa, until his retirement in 2002. When the IAEA won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, he received a Letter of Appreciation from the Nobel Committee for his contribution. Upon his return to Mauritius, he was instrumental in setting up the first interactive science museum in Mauritius in his capacity as the first Chairman of the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre. He was a member of Council and Chairman of the Staff Committee of the University of Mauritius from 2005 to 2012 and President of the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) from 2012 to 2015. He also served as the Chairman of the Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security Council (2006 to 2021) and Vice-Chair of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) from 2013 to 2019.

Past President and Member	Dr Jean Claude AUTREY, GCSK, CSK, is the Chancellor of the University of Mauritius with which he had a long association since 1978. He was a lecturer at the School of Agriculture on a part-time basis, a member of the Senate for ten years, and Member of the Council since 1998, along with being the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Budget Committee and Infrastructure of the University. Dr Autrey spent his career spanning over 40 years from 1967 to 2007 with Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) and was its Director from 1996 to 2007. He has been active at the level of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists since the 1980s having been Chair of Pathology Section, Biology Commissioner, Chair of the Technical Programme Committee and Chair of the Executive Committee and Council from 2001 to 2005. He holds a BSc degree in Botany from the University of London, a Masters in Plant Pathology and a PhD in Virology and a DSc in Biological Sciences from the University Exeter. He is the author of some 200 scientific papers and more than a hundred expert reports. Dr. Autrey is a Fellow of the Society for Biology, London and is a Chartered Biologist. He is an elected member of TWAS - The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries. He has been the President of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius and the Société de Technologie Agricole et Sucrière de Maurice and the Mauritius Standards Council. Dr Autrey holds currently various posts: General Secretary of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Science & Technology Coordinator of Omnicane Group, Chair of the Research & Development Committee of the MSIRI, Chair of the ACP States Committee on Sugar Research, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group of the ACP Sugar Research Programme, Lead Consultant of the West African Sugar Development Programme, United Nations a project, managed by the International Sugar Organization in London, Director of the Flora of the Mascarenes Project, a monumental task entailing the description of all plant species in Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues. Dr. Autrey has been conferred many distinctions in his 56-year long career such as: Silver (1978) and Gold (2007) Medals, MSIRI, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, CSK (2005), Grand Commander of the Order of the Start and Key of the Indian Ocean, GCSK (2024), Honorary Life Member: Société de Technologie Agricole et Sucrière de l'Ile Maurice (STASM - 2000); ISSCT (2010); Mauritius Academy of Science and Tehcnology (2014) and Royal Society of Arts and Sciences Mauritius (2015). An active Rotarian since 1980, Dr. Autrey has served the Rotary Club of Port Louis in various capacities including its presidency in 1986-1987. Dr. Autrey was made Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International in 2002 for distinguished services to the Community.

Members	Dr Deoraj CAUSSY, a graduate of Canadian University with a dual specialty in virology and epidemiology is an independent epidemiologist offering integrated epidemiology solutions to a variety of contemporary problems via https://www.drdeorajcaussy.com/, He is a seasoned epidemiologist of international recognition, having trained and worked in world renowned institutes including the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and the World Health Organization. He was advisor in epidemiology and virology at the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life in Mauritius he also teaches the same subjects in various institutions in Mauritius. His forte being capacity building and networking through policy analysis and formulation, he has closely followed the development and management of covid-19 around the world. He plays an active role in raising public awareness of contemporary health issues through his regular publications in the locally and internationally. He has contributed to policy document on climate change and health for NASAC and presented at COP26 and 27 for IAP.

	Brigitte Marie-Françoise DRIVER is Professor of Animal Science. She gained her PhD in Animal Science from Massey University, New Zealand in 1989. She was a Senior African Fulbright Research Fellow from Cornell University, USA in 1992. She worked for more than 30 years at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius. Her research has primarily focused on enhancing the sustainability of animal agriculture by improving the on-farm feed strategies. Research themes include the enhancement of forage feeding value, the development of alternative sustainable supplies of feeds, improved on-farm management practices for safe food production of animal origin. She also has a keen interest in higher education research. She has worked on many research projects funded by the UNDP, GEF, FAO, and the EU. She was appointed as council member of the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) in October 2023. She is currently the SSR Chair of African Studies at the University of Mauritius, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.