Scientist Goverdhan Mehta gets Modi Award

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Prof Goverdhan Mehta of IIS, Bangalore, today received the G M Modi Award for Innovative Science and Technology, 2007 for his research in organic synthesis that has direct relevance to the drug discovery programmes of the future.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1.01 lakh.

Prof Goverdhen, a former Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad University, joins the impressive list of previous awardees, including former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Presenting the Award, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said health and education were the biggest challenges facing the country in the 21st century.

''The biggest problem is providing clean drinking water and finding solutions to health problems such as new stains of TB and cholera,'' he said.

''And the solutions will come from investing hugely in science, and in youth,'' he added.

UNI