Bhubaneswar: Prof Kshirod Kumar Jena of the School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, was conferred with the prestigious Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence at a state-level event in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
It carries a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh along with a medallion, memento and citation.
He was among the 16 awardees, who were facilitated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, with Odisha Bigyan Academy awards-2023 announced by Odisha Bigyan Academy, with the approval of the Science & Technology department, in September last year.
Jena is recognised for his research on improving rice production using the cutting edge Agricultural Biotechnology.
Similarly, chief scientist of ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack, Dr Sanghamitra Samantray and Prof Pinaki Dutt of Chandigarh’s PGIMER (life science), Prof Vedangdas Mohanty of NISER (physical science) and NIT-Rourkela’s Prof Subrat Kumar Panda (engineering and technology) were conferred with Samanta Chandrasekhar Award for outstanding research contribution in science and technology.
It carries Rs 1 lakh prize money along with a citation and memento.
Dr Sarita Sekhar Pattnaik, assistant professor, SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, Dr Apramita Chand, assistant professor, Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar, Prof Rajesh Kumar Prusty of NIT, Rourkela, and Sanjay Kumar Panda, assistant professor, NIT, Warangal, were awarded Odisha Young Scientists Award.
Rabindranath Majhi and Tulasi Swain received Pranakrushna Parija Popular Science Book Awards in General and Children categories respectively.
The young scientists and the authors will receive a cash award of Rs 25,000 with a citation and a memento.
Five other senior scientists – Dr Raj Kishore Paramguru, Dr Shubhranshu Sekhar Mahapatra, Prof Krushna Chandra Mohanty, Dr Raghupatruni Bhima Rao and Prof Malay Kumar Mishra – were also felicitated on the occasion.
Stating that science and technology should be used for the betterment of human society, the CM said the state government is now focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, robotics and quantum computing. He also urged the scientists of the state to develop new technologies for agriculture, health and education sectors to achieve rapid economic development.
To foster a scientific mindset, the government is also working on expanding STEM education by setting up a network of planetariums and science centres across the state, he said.
“The state government will set up Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovative Corridor to harness the bio-resources of the Bay of Bengal and drive advancements in marine biotechnology,” Majhi added.
Minister for Science and Technology, Food Supply, and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra was also present.