BHUBANESWAR: The ‘Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence’ was conferred on Prof Ganapati Panda at an award function organised by Odisha Bigyan Academy (OBA) here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented the award to Prof Panda for his exemplary contribution to the field of technology. Several other eminent scientists were also awarded at the ceremony which was presided by the president of OBA Uma Charan Mohanty.
The ‘Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award’ was presented to Birendra Kumar Mohapatra, Sushil Kumar Dutta, Sanghamitra Mohanty and Ajit Kumar Shasany. Eminent scientists Satyananda Acharya, Bhabendra Kumar Patnaik and Govinda Chandra Sahu were felicitated by the Chief Minister on the occasion.
The ‘Odisha Young Scientists Award’ was conferred on Dipti Prakasini Das, Banikalyan Swain and Punyapriya Mishra while the ‘Pranakrushna Parija Popular Science Award’ was presented to Purabi Mohanty and Jyotirmayee Mohanty. The Chief Minister congratulated the awardees for their contribution to the cause of science and its popularisation. He urged the academia and research institutions to enhance their quality to match the global standards.
“I wish science should be applied to target lasting solutions for the problems of common populace more specifically for those living at the bottom of the social pyramid,” said Patnaik. Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Pradip Kumar Panigrahi; Secretary, Science and Technology Department Surendra Kumar and Secretary were present.