Texas Governor Greg Abbott Appoints Indian Americans to Radiation Advisory Board

May 27 :
Suresh Pillai and Sam Kannappan, both of Indian American descent, have been appointed to the Texas Radiation Advisory Board, which analyses the regulations, policies, and programmes of state agencies that control radiation, and advises the state on radiation matters. This nomination was made public by Governor Greg Abbott. Among his many roles at Texas A&M University, professor and senior faculty colleague Suresh Pillai heads up the National Centre for Electron Beam Research (NCEBR). His areas of expertise include ionising technologies, environmental cleanup, and the creation of new vaccines, as well as the quality and safety of food.

In addition to his involvement with the American Society of Microbiology and the International Atomic Energy Agency, he is acknowledged as a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists. He is a University of Arizona Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. holder.

The selection of Governor Abbott to this board is a great honour, Pillai stated. "In Texas and around the United States, we are about to see major developments in the commercial uses of ionising technologies in water, food, and agriculture."

Sam Kannappan has a solid engineering background; he is the creator and president of the Pearland-based Kannappan Art Museums and a partner in ABI Enterprises, Inc. A member of the Texas Onsite Wastewater Treatment Research Council and a former chairman of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers' enforcement committee, he brings a wealth of experience to his current role.

Kannappan has authored multiple professional publications on carbon management and is the author of "Introduction to Pipe Stress Analysis." He got his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin. According to a statement released by the governor's office, the appointments strengthen the board's ability to oversee and recommend policies and programmes in Texas concerning radiation.