NCSTC announces National Awards-07 for S

Panaji, Feb 26 (UNI) The National award of Rs two lakh for 'outstanding efforts in science communication' has been bagged by Dr V A Elavalagan, Chennai, for his columns in newspapers, articles in popular magazines, popular talk shows and field programmes which have enhanced public awareness and increased understanding of science.

The National Council for Science&Technology Communication (NCSTC) today announced its annual National Awards for science and technology communication for outstanding work done in the past five years. The award function will be held on March one in New Delhi.

These awards were instituted in 1987 by the government with a view to encourage and recognize the efforts in the area of science and technology communication and were first announced on National Science Day in 1988.

No award is being given for the category of science translation in Indian languages this year.

Incidentally, the NCSTC is celebrating its Silver Jubilee, marked with the year-long programmes and activities for ensuring deeper outreach of science and technology into the society, its director Dr Manoj K Patairiya told UNI today.

Another award of rupees two lakh will be given to a Kochi-based non-government organization Swadeshi Science Movement which has been relentlessly working for communicating science by organizing congresses, workshops and competitions besides publishing popular magazines in the area.

Awards in the category of one lakh for 'Outstanding efforts in science communication through books and magazines' will be given to Rekha Aggarwal, New Delhi.

'Outstanding efforts in science popularization among children' will go to Dr Madhu Pant, New Delhi.

A similar award will be given to Kuldeep Sharma, New Delhi.

The award for 'outstanding efforts in Science and Technology Communication in Print Medium' will be given to S Ananthanarayanan, Mumbai.

A similar award will be given to freelance journalist Dinesh C Sharma, New Delhi.

'Outstanding Efforts in Science and Technology Communication through Electronic Medium' award will be given to Niret Alva, Gurgaon.

A similar award will be given to H B Muralidhara and Seema Muralidhara, Mumbai.

Union Minister, Science and Technology Kapil Sibal will felicitate the winners at a function to be organised in connection with National Science Day in New Delhi on March 1 after presenting the winners with the cash award along with a memento and a citation.

Science exhibitions, quiz competitions, health awareness and science activity camps are being organized in various parts of the country to mark the National Science Day.

UNI