Sri Kollegala Sharma, (ASKVS Sharma) is a senior science communicator and popular  science writer in Kannada. Shri Sharma, who retired as Chief Scientist in CSIR-Central Food  Technological Research Institute Mysore, has been writing science in Kannada and has  contributed more than 4000 popular science articles through his columns and independent  writeups. He has scripted 200 science radio dramas in Kannada for broadcast on All India  Radio and various community radios. During the past five years he has pioneered and  steered production of Jaanasuddi, a Kannada Science podcast, the first of its kind in India,  that was a finalist entry in the famous Falling Walls competition of Germany. Nearing  around 900 episodes, the podcasts reach 3000 audience directly through WhatsApp and a  larger audience through twelve community radios spread across Karnataka.  

Shri Sharma has also been a trainer, and resource person, in translation of S&T texts, science  writing and has spearheaded scripting and production of Science Plays in Kannada. As the  state coordinator for Kutuhali, the Science Communication, Popularization and Extension  programme of Vigyan Prasa he has edited a monthly Kannada science magazine called  Kutuhali for the project. The magazine continues to be published even after the closure of  the project through his efforts as Kutuhali Kannada. 

He has also been involved closely with the Mysore Science Theatre Festival Trust in  spearheading a unique theatre Movement that takes Kannada Science Plays to various  audience through performances in schools, colleges, theatres and in Theatre Festivals.  During the past five years the movement has produced 21 plays many of which have seen  more than 10 performances.  

Shri Sharma has 10 popular science books and several children’s science books to his credit.  Two of these are translations from English. His translations of a column on science appeared  in The Wire Science along with his podcasts as a series.  

Sri Sharma is recipient of many honours such as the Best Science Communicator award of  Vision Group on S&T, Government of Karnataka, in 2011, Best Writer award (for his book  Marala Melina Hejjegalu) by Karnataka Science and Technology Academy in 2008, and Na  D’Souza Prize for Best Children’s Book of the year (JanaPrashne-2023). Besides he has also  received Katha best translator award (1994), and Best Radio feature Prize from AIR (2008)..  

He has been a regular speaker in State and National level Science Communication gatherings and is a member of expert panels on Science Communication, Science education of Central  and State governments.  

Books: 

Achievements in Anonymity 

Tharantharanga 

Shareeravo? Ranarangavo?

Ideke Heege? 

Marala Melina Hejjegalu (Received the Best Writer award from KSTA) 

Bhoomigudurite Jeeva? 

Janaprashne (Na D’Souza award for childrens literature) 

Thali Uli (translation) 

Gubbachiya Brahmastra 

Kanada Loka (Translation from English) 

Goggayya Elli? (Children’s Literature) 

Plastcaayana ( in Press) 

Science Fiction (Anthology in Press) 

Popular Science Articles 

More than 4000 articles over the past 40 years in various newspapers and magazines. 

Editor 

Edited and published Kutuhali-Kannada, a free Kannada Science Monthly being subscribed  by 2000, and distributed free across Karnataka for the past five years. 

Radio dramas 

Written 70 plays, and coordinated production of more than 200 plays for All India Radio and  for Janadhwani, a Community Radio. 

Podcasts 

Initiated Kannada podcasts by producing Janasuddi and has produced more than 900  episodes of Science news. Besides being distributed through WhatsApp, the podcast is also  broadcast across Karnataka by 13 Community radio stations. Reaching many lakhs of people.  It has also been hailed as a unique effort and received international recognition as a finalist  entry in the German Falling Walls competition. Janasuddi has been considered a model  effort in bringing science to the unreachable through their own language. The entire effort is  voluntary, and has sought no funding. 

Training

Sri Sharrma has been a regular trainer in translation of Science and Technology texts at the  workshops conducted by the National Translation Mission, Mysore. In this capacity he has  conducted classes, theoretical as well as practical, for more than 75 batches of students  across India 

Sri Sharma had been a triner in workshops conducted by the Department of Science and  Technology on Science Writing for research scholars.  

Science Theatre 

Along with a few other like minded enthusiasts founded the Mysorre Science Theatre Festival  which has produced 21 new science plays in Kannada and has spearheaded a new  movement of science theatre through performances at various schools, colleges, theatres and institutions across Karnataka. Annual Science Theatre Festival is a regular feature of  Mysore now.  

Teaching and mentoring. 

Have been mentoring teachers of various schools on communicating difficult concepts of  science in classrooms through hands on activities and other methods. Regularly mentors a  group of teachers on their activities.