Scientists and researchers receive prestigious awards, citations and cash prizes for their contributions to scientific excellence, AND research at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar
OdishaPlus Bureau
Several scientists and researchers were felicitated and presented with awards and cash prizes at the Award Investiture Ceremony of the Odisha Bigyan Academy, under the Science & Technology Department of the state government, for the Award Year 2024 held at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
The ceremony was presided over by Odisha Bigyan Academy President Sibani Mohanty.
Science and Technology, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra attended as the Chief Guest and presented the awards.
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh and Science and Technology Department Additional Chief Secretary and Director General of Gopabandhu Academy of Administration Chithra Arumugam were the Guests of Honour.
Five senior scientists – Dr. Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, Dr. Sudhakar Kar, Prof. Rabindra Kumar Panda, Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty and Prof. Bijay Kumar Mishra – were felicitated for their contributions to science. They received mementoes, citations and uttariyas.
Dr. Surendra Kumar Biswal received the Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence, carrying a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh, a gold-coated silver medallion, memento, certificate, citation and uttariya.
The Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award was conferred on Prof. Umakanta Subudhi, Prof. Subhankar Bedanta and Prof. Jagadish Chandra Paul for their research contributions within Odisha, while Prof. Raghunath Sahoo received the award for his research work outside the State. Each awardee received Rs. 1 lakh along with a gold-coated silver medallion, memento, certificate, citation and uttariya.
The Odisha Young Scientist Award was presented to Dr. Chita Ranjan Sahoo, Dr. Rudra Majhi and Dr. Ram Prasad Padhy for their research within the State, while Dr. Rabindra Mohanty was recognised for his work outside Odisha. Each recipient received Rs. 25,000, along with a memento, certificate, citation and uttariya.
Prof. Bhagaban Patra and Dr. Krutibas Nayak received the Prana Krushna Parija Popular Science Book Award in the General and Children categories, respectively. Both received Rs. 25,000 along with a memento, certificate, citation and uttariya.