Binoy Kumar Saikia, a senior scientist at CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, has won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (SSB) for Science and Technology 2021 for his pioneering research in the field of coal and energy. He won the award given by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences category.
He is the 5th person from Assam to win the award since its institution.
- The names of the 11 recipients of the awards were announced on 26th September, the 80th foundation day of CSIR.
About Binoy Kumar Saikia:
i.Binoy Kumar Saikia, (44 years old) from Golaghat, Assam, has been involved in various coal and petroleum projects in Assam and other North East regions.
ii.He has contributed to the formation of fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from Indian coal.
iii.His indigenous patented CQD technology that falls under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, substituted import.
iv.He won the RP Bhatnagar Award in 2015-16 and Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award in 2012.
CQDs:
- CQDs are small carbon nanoparticles with a size of less than 10 nm (nanometer).
- CQDs which have high stability, good conductivity, low toxicity and are environmentally friendly, can be used in medicine and environmental science.
Dr Jeemon Panniyammakal of AMCHSS won SSB prize 2021 under Medical Sciences:
Dr Jeemon Panniyammakal, Associate professor of Epidemiology, The Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (AMCHSS), Kerala won the SSB Prize for Science and Technology 2021 for his research in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in India.
He won the award under the Medical Science category.
About Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize:
i.The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is annually presented to the recognised the outstanding contribution of any citizen of India (including Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India) engaged in research in any field of science and technology.
ii.The award is presented to the scientist under the age of 45 years as of 31st December of the year preceding the year of the Prize.
iii.The award is named after the late Dr (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, founder Director of the CSIR.
iv.The awards are presented in 7 Categories:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Medical Sciences
- Physical Sciences.
Prize:
Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Winners of SSB prize 2021:
| Category | Awardees |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | Dr Amit Singh |
| Dr Arun Kumar Shukla | |
| Chemical Sciences | Dr Kanishka Biswas |
| Dr T Govindaraju | |
| Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences | Dr Binoy Kumar Saikia |
| Engineering Sciences | Dr Debdeep Mukhopadhyay |
| Mathematical Sciences | Dr Anish Ghosh |
| Dr Saket Saurabh | |
| Medical Sciences | Dr Jeemon Panniyammakal |
| Dr Rohit Srivastava | |
| Physical Sciences | Dr Kanak Saha |
Click here for the official list of awardees
About Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
CSIR has a network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes, and five units with a pan-India presence.
President– Narendra Modi(Prime Minister)
Director-General– Dr Shekhar C. Mande
Headquarters– New Delhi
