National Bioscience Awards- 2007 conferred on nine scientists

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal on Monday conferred nine emerging scientists with the National Bioscience Awards- 2007. The award winners are honoured for their outstanding contribution in the field of bioscience and biotechnology including agricultural, biomedical and environmental sciences with potential for application/product and technology development.

The award ceremony also marked the 22nd Foundation Day of Department of Biotechnology. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a project research grant of Rs. 9 lakh for three years for career development.

The award winners include Amit Prakash Sharma, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, Bhaskar Saha, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, Ranjan Sen, Center for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad and Tilak Raj Sharma, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

The other winners are: Dr. G. Dhinakar Raj, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, Owais Mohammad, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Ramanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, Ramanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, and Ramanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

The award is bestowed to recognise pioneering contribution of young scientists below 45 years of age in basic and applied research. The grant is assisted to further boost up their career development plan. This time there was proposal to honour as many as 10 scientists; who are citizens of India or Overseas Citizen of India with exceptional contribution in the field of bioscience/biotechnology.

As per the guidelines of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) scientists who are involved in working for a period of three-year research in India or work in India for a total period of 5 years are well eligible for nomination. Only then candidates are selected on the basis of recommendation of Selection Committee, who carefully analyse the purposed research project and the possibilities of its implementation.