Dr. Martin Apple is President of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, an organization dedicated to establishing science policy, developing scientific leadership and promoting increased interaction among scientific societies. He successfully interfaces between the 60 member organization, leading researchers, science educators, Congresspeople, and the media, organizing interesting and provocative twice-yearly meetings for the Council members and orchestrating the production of concise and timely position papers. He also is a frequent speaker, advocating for improved science education, federal funding of research, greater interaction and cooperation among scientific societies, and greater involvement of scientists in their community, their societies and at the national level.

Dr. Apple is Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (five nationally renown research centers) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois Center for Advanced Research in Behavioral Neurobiology in Chicago.

He established the world's first transgenic plant research center (President, International Plant Research Institute, San Carlos, Calif., 1977-82) and has been the CEO of other similar enterprises in California, including the first U.S. computer assisted molecular design R&D center and a high tech business development group. He has worked closely with Congressional representatives in regard to policy and advised about education (Expert advisor, Department of Education, 1996-2001; Member, USDA Blue Ribbon Panel, 2000-01).

He received an MSc from the University of Minnesota in Genetics and Microbiology, and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of California.

Dr. Apple has received numerous awards, including: Leadership Citation East-West Center. Board of Governors, 1988. Leadership Citation, Council of Scientific Society Presidents, 1995. Fellow: Amer. Coll. Clinical. Pharmacology and Amer. Inst. Chemists. Fellow - Phi Beta Kappa (Disting. Service Award 1984,1985), Sigma Xi (life member, U Calif Berkeley Chapter), Board of Directors, Chairman, long-range strategic planning committee, 1988-92.