BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday felicitated UNESCO Kalinga Prize winner of 2015 Prof Diego Andres Golombek who is on a visit to Odisha till April 25 as a State guest. The CM presented Golombek with a stole and a silver filigree memento.
Congratulating Golombek, the CM said the Professor was instrumental in development of the first science cultural centre of Argentina at Ricardo Rojas Centre in Buenos Aires.
Prof Golombek is a teacher, researcher and author who holds a PhD in biology and a degree in music. An expert in neurochemistry of circadian rhythms in mammals, especially the time-dependent effects of the pineal hormone melatonin on different behaviours, he heads the chronobiology laboratory of the University of Quilmes.
Appreciating the gesture, Prof Golombek said he was honoured to be in Odisha. The Kalinga award has placed the State in the global science map, he said and added that he takes a great interest in the culture of the State and India.
The UNESCO Kalinga Prize was instituted by late Biju Patnaik in 1951 for popularisation of science among the common people.
The prize money for the award has been enhanced from US $20,000 to US $40,000 from this year.
Prof Golombek was selected for the prize in recognition of his tireless contribution to science, communication and education in diverse and entertaining formats.