Bengaluru: A professor of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru is among the six winners of the Infosys Prize 2019 presented by the Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) in the areas of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. Prof. G. Mugesh, of the IISc's Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, has won the award in the Physical Sciences category.
The awards carry a real gold medal, a citation and a prize purse of USD 100,000 (or its equivalent in rupees) this year and will be presented on January 7 in the presence of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, who will be the guest of honour on the occasion. The winners for 2019 were picked from among 196 contenders.
As the foundation announced the awards, Infosys founder, Narayana Murthy noted that many Indian scientists and mathematicians did earth-shaking work during the golden period of science and mathematics in India from 100 AD to 1400 AD and said the country’s youth today must be educated to think independently to use research and its applications to find scientific and technological solutions to India’s problems.
Mr S. D. Shibulal, co-founder, Infosys Limited and president of the Infosys Science Foundation, said the Infosys Prize continued to recognise exemplary work in scientific research. “Many Infosys Prize laureates have gone on to contribute significantly in key areas like healthcare, genetics, climate science, astronomy and poverty alleviation. We hope their work catalyses social development,” he added.
