Five scientists to be awarded by Physical Research Laboratory Award in Ahmedabad

The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad has announced the Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards, as well as the PRL Award, for the year 2009, to five scientists for their significant contributions to various fields.
According to officials, the four scientists selected for the Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards include Prof Jayaram Chengalur from National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune, Dr Prakash Chauhan from Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, Prof Abhay Karandikar from IIT-Mumbai and Prof K Sridharan from IIT-Chennai.

Prof Chengalur has been selected for the award in the field of space sciences, for his significant contributions in radio astrophysics, particularly towards understanding dark matter in dwarf galaxies and characteristics of the interstellar medium using the giant metrewave radio telescope.

Dr Chauhan's selection for the award is in the field of space applications, for his original contributions towards development of ocean colour algorithms from space-borne data for oceanographic applications.

The award was given jointly to Prof Karandikar and Prof Sridharan in the field of telematics and automation, to Prof Karandikar for his significant contribution to wireless technology and standards, particularly for 4G wireless technology, and to Prof Sridharan for his important contributions to computational geometric aspects of robotic path finding and defining measures for interpretation of pairs of objects.

The recipient of the PRL Award is Dr AK Patra from the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Gadanki (AP). He has been awarded in the field of earth and planetary sciences for his contributions towards understanding the coupling between middle atmosphere and lower thermosphere processes, and elucidating on the role of gravity waves in neutral atmosphere dynamics.
Officials said that each award carries a medal and a cash prize of Rs50,000, and will be presented at a ceremony at PRL on August 12, commemorating the birth anniversary of late Dr Vikram Sarabhai. All the awardees will deliver a lecture on the day, highlighting their scientific contributions.

The Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards were instituted from funds provided by Pujya Shri Mota of Hari Om ashram, Nadiad, and the PRL Award from the Aruna Lal Endowment Fund established by Prof Devendra Lal, honorary fellow and former director of PRL.