Kalinga Prize


The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people. It was created in 1952, following a donation from Biju Patnaik, Founder President of the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.

Background

The recipient of this annual award must have demonstrated – during a brilliant career as writer, editor, lecturer, film producer, radio/television programme director or presenter – talent in interpreting science and technology for the public. The recipient should have striven to emphasize the international importance of science and technology and the contribution they make to improving public welfare, enriching the cultural heritage of nations, and solving problems facing humanity. Many past prize winners have been scientists, while others have been trained in journalism or have been educators or writers.
Each member state is entitled to nominate a single candidate, through its National Commission for UNESCO, on the recommendation of the national associations for the advancement of science or other science associations, or national associations of science writers or science journalists. Applications from individuals are not accepted.
The laureate is selected by the Director-General of UNESCO upon the recommendation of a four-member jury designated by him. Three members of the jury from different countries of the world are designated on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and the fourth on the recommendation of the Kalinga Foundation Trust.
The Kalinga Prize is awarded during the Celebration of the World Science Day in odd years and in New Delhi, India, in even years. Under the terms of the Prize, the recipient receives forty thousand dollars and a UNESCO Albert Einstein Silver Medal. The recipient is also awarded the Ruchi Ram Sahni Chair, introduced by the Government of India in 2001 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kalinga Prize. As holder of the Ruchi Ram Sahni Chair, the winner travels to India for a period of two to four weeks as the guest of the Government of India. The Chair also comprises a token honorarium of US$5,000. In the years when the award ceremony take place during the celebration of the World Science Day, the recipient travels to the city where the science day is being celebrated as the guest of UNESCO. In the years when it is awarded in New Delhi, the recipient is invited, as the guest of the Kalinga Foundation Trust, to undertake a brief lecture tour in India. For this reason, it is preferable that the recipient be proficient in English.
Each National Commission for UNESCO proposes a candidate only on the recommendation of the national associations for the advancement of science or other science associations, or national associations of science writers or scientific journalists.
The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is administered by the Science Analysis and Policies Division of UNESCO.

Kalinga Prize laureates

Statistics

By 2021 the prize had been awarded to 71 people from 26 countries:
CountryNo. of Awards
United Kingdom10 times
USA8 times
France7 times
India5 times
Russia 5 times
Brazil5 times
Venezuela4 times
Mexico4 times
Pakistan2 times
Germany2 times
Italy2 times
Canada2 times
Argentina1 time
Armenia1 time
Australia1 time
Austria1 time
Bangladesh1 time
Belgium1 time
China1 time
Czech Republic1 time
Finland1 time
Egypt1 time
Ghana1 time
Romania1 time
Nigeria1 time
Philippines1 time
Vietnam1 time

Kalinga Samman

From 2010, the Kalinga Foundation Trust instituted a state level prize under the name Kalinga Samman for Popularization of Science. The award will be presented annually to an eminent scientist and science litterateur from the state of Odisha for outstanding contribution for popularization of science among the public.

Kalinga Samman laureates

Source:
YearRecipient
2010Chitta Ranjan Mishra
Pramod Kumar Mohapatra
2011Gokulananda Mahapatra
2012Basanta Kumar Behura
2013Hara Prasanna Mishra
2014Trilochan Pradhan
2015Prafulla Kumar Jena
2016Dwijesh Kumar Panda
2017Jnanadeva Maharana
2018Birendra Kishore Das
2019Nimai Charan Panda