THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The highest award in taxonomic research in India for 2017 has been awarded to P T Cherian for his exceptional work in the field of animal taxonomy. The award was presented by Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science and Technology and Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change at Vignan Bhavan, New Delhi.
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the name of scientist Dr E K Janaki Ammal in order to honour eminent Indian scientists for their life time achievements. The award consists of `5 lakh, a scroll and a medallion. The awards were also given to S R Yadav, a scientist from Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur for Plant Taxonomy. S Sivaji from Hyderabad in Microbial Taxonomy.
Cherian has been researching on the two-winged Diptera group of insects and has been working on this group for more than five years. He has found more than 20 new genera and more than 700 new species in this group, mainly from India and his classification of Diptera group is followed world over today.
This scientist has served as an expert member in many national and advisory committees. He is continuing his work on Diptera group at the Department of Zoology, University of Kerala as an Emeritus Scientist.