Ganapati Panda gets Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday called upon the scientist community in the State to ensure lasting solutions for the problems of common populace, more specifically for those living at the bottom of the social pyramid.
Patnaik, while speaking at a felicitation programme of senior scientists for the year 2012 by Odisha Bigyan Academy (OBA), said, “The crucial social, economic and environmental challenges need to be resolved and science is the instrument that can bring enduring solutions to these challenges. Using the tools of science, we bravely faced the natural disaster Phailin a few months back so as to minimise the loss of life and property.”
Also emphasising on enhancement of quality of academic and research institutions to match with the international standards, Patnaik said, “Our research programmes need to achieve a range of out-of-the-box solutions to combat the menaces of environmental pollution, energy crisis, water scarcity, global warming and climate change.”
Patnaik also advised the OBA to convene an annual conclave of scientists and technocrats in the State to provide an excellent platform to the scientific fraternity including young scientists, school children, women scientists and traditional innovators of the State.
The Chief Minister felicitated Prof Ganapati Panda with the Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence, Prof Satyananda Acharya, Prof Bhabendra Kumar Patnaik and Er Govinda Chandra Sahu with Senior Scientist Award, Dr Birendra Kumar Mohapatra, Prof Sushil Kumar Dutta, Prof Sanghamitra Mohanty and Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany with Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award, Dr Dipti Prakasini Das, Dr Banikalyan Swain and Dr Punyapriya Mishra to Young Scientist Award and Dr Purabi Mohanty and Dr Jyotirmayee Mohanty to Pranakrushna Parija Popular Award.
Among others, Higher Education and Science and Technology Minister Pradip Panigrahi, Science and Technology Department Secretary Surendra Kumar and OBA President Prof Umacharan Mohanty and Secretary Dr Rekha Das were present on the occasion.