PRL announces winners of Hariom Ashram – Vikram Sarabhai awards

Ahmedabad, 11 July 2012

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has announced Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards and PRL Award for the year 2011 to five scientists for their significant contributions to various fields.

The recipients of the Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards in different fields are:

1.Space Sciences

Two scientists share this award.

i)Prof. Tarun Souradeep from Inter University Center for Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pune, for his significant contribution in the field of observational cosmology by developing new analytical approach for studying anisotropy in cosmic microwave background data obtained by Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and recent Planck mission.

ii)Dr. Biswajit Paul from Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, for his significant contribution to our understanding of X-ray sources based on studies of their spectral characteristics and development of new generation X-ray experiments to be flown in ASTROSAT and future Indian Space mission.

2.Space Application

Dr. N.R. Patel from Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, for his original contributions in the field of agro-meterology and in particular for retrieving of crop bio-physical parameters using remote sensing data to quantify primary production.

3.Electronics, Informatics, Telematics & Automation

Dr. Ashwin Gumaste from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, for introducing novel concept of light trail and omnipresent Ethernet and effective transfer of technology to industry.

4.The recipient of the PRL Award is:

Dr. Vineet K. Gahalaut from National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, in the field of Earth and Planetary Systems for his outstanding work using GPS system to understand the processes of crustal deformation and occurrence of earthquakes.

Each award carries a Medal and a Cash Prize of ` 50,000/- and will be presented at a ceremony in mid August 2012 at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. All the awardees will deliver a lecture on the day of the award highlighting their scientific contributions.

The Vikram Sarabhai 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.