Bhubaneswar: The award investiture ceremony of Odisha Bigyan Academy, Science & Technology Department for the year 2024 was held at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar today.
The ceremony was chaired by Sibani Mohanty, President, Odisha Bigyan Academy. Science & Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra attended as the chief guest and conferred awards on eminent scientists of the state.
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh and Additional Chief Secretary, Science & Technology Department and DG, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Chithra Arumugam graced the occasion as guests of honour.
Senior Scientists Felicitated
Dr. Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, Dr. Sudhakar Kar, Prof. Rabindra Kumar Panda, Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty and Prof. Bijay Kumar Mishra were felicitated as Senior Scientists of Odisha with memento, citation and uttariya.
Top Honours
Dr. Surendra Kumar Biswal was conferred with the prestigious Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, gold-coated silver medallion, memento, certificate, citation and uttariya.
Prof. Umakanta Subudhi, Prof. Subhankar Bedanta and Prof. Jagadish Chandra Paul received the Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award for their research contribution within the state, while Prof. Raghunath Sahoo received the award for his research outside the state.
Each awardee received Rs 1 lakh cash prize along with medallion, memento and citation.
Young Scientist Awards
Dr. Chita Ranjan Sahoo, Dr. Rudra Majhi and Dr. Ram Prasad Padhy received the Odisha Young Scientist Award for research within the state, and Dr. Rabindra Mohanty was awarded for his work outside the state. Each received Rs 25,000 cash prize.
Popular Science Book Award
Prof. Bhagaban Patra received the Prana Krushna Parija Popular Science Book Award in the General Category, while Dr. Krutibas Nayak received it in the Children Category. Both received Rs 25,000 cash prize.
The programme was hosted by Anuja Tarini Mishra and the vote of thanks was proposed by Deputy Secretary, Science & Technology Department Urmiprava Maharana.
