BANGALORE: The state government will award 17 scientists and engineers, who have made significant contribution towards development of the state in various fields of science and technology for 2008 and 2009, in Bangalore on Wednesday.
A high-level committee formed by the government and headed by Prof C N R Rao, consisting of many eminent scientists, selected the awardees for Sir M Visvesvaraya Award for Senior Scientists, Dr Raja Ramanna Award for Scientists/Engineers, Sir C V Raman Award for Young Scientists, Prof Satish Dhawan Award for Young Engineers and Dr Kalpana Chawla Award for Young Women Scientists/ Engineers.
“For Sir M Visvesvaraya Senior Scientist Award 2008, we have selected former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr M R Srinivasan, and for 2009, the former vice-chancellor of Mangalore University Prof M I Savadatti,” said Rao. He said the cash prize for Sir M Visvesvaraya Award has been increased to Rs1 lakh, of Dr Raja Ramanna award to Rs 75,000 and for the other awards to Rs 50,000.
While one scientist has been awarded the Sir C V Raman Young Scientists’ Award for 2008 for contribution in the field of physical sciences, two share the honours in the chemical sciences category, one gets the award for medical sciences, one in life sciences and two for agriculture sciences & animal husbandry (for 2008 and 2009). The upper age limit for all awards, excluding the senior scientists, is 50 years.
The Dr Raja Ramanna Award for Scientists 2008 has gone to retired professor Prof S V Subramanyam of the Indian Institute of Science and for 2009, it is Karnataka State Open University Vice-Chancellor Prof K S Rangappa. Four engineers are being honoured with Prof Satish Dhawan Young Engineers Award for both 2008 and 2009 based on their contribution to the fields of aerospace science and technology, engineering sciences and computer & electronic engineering.
Prof. T N Sathyaprabha from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences gets the Dr Kalpana Chawla Young Women Scientists/ Engineers Award for 2008, as Dr Asna Urooj from the University of Mysore wins it for 2009.
BE SENSIBLE!
Commenting on the recent call by the Indian Institute of Science Director Prof P Balaram for a moratorium on all further nuclear activity till a safety audit of facilities in the country is conducted, Prof C N R Rao said: “It’s an absurd statement. It’s like banning traffic movement in the city because many roads are unsafe for commuters and pedestrians.” Also, Bangalore will get a nanotechnology institute in another three months. It would focus on research and development activities, revealed Rao.