Three city scientists bag INSA awards

Three city scientists have won the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) awards for young scientists this year.

Three city scientists have won the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) awards for young scientists this year. Award winners Dr Amol Kulkarni and Dr Rajesh Gonnade are from the National Chemical Laboratory while Dr V Govindan Anand is from the Indian Education of Science Education and Research (IISER).

This award is a recognition not just for me,but for the institute as well, said Kulkarni. Thirty-two-year-old Kulkarni hails from Latur and has been in Pune for the last four years. He has been recognised for his work in micro-reaction technology,where he has deviced micro-level chemical reactors to conduct chemical reactions on a miniature level. Most of his recent work has been applied to pharmaceutical and perfumery. The Indian industries are aware of micro r-eaction technology. In the next few years we can expect direct product commercialisation of this technology for companies, he said.

Earlier,Kulkarni had won the Max Planck visiting fellowship for 2008-2011 and also the Indo-US science and Technology Forums IUSSTF Research Fellowship 2004. In the past,he had received the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship 2004.

Thirty-four-year-old Gonnade is a chemical crystallographer and has been recognised for working in the field of Halogen bonding which is a tool in crystal engineering for the construction of functional materials. Our work will continue,the award has just brought it into limelight, he said. Gonnade,originally from Bhandara district,has been conducting research work in Pune for more than eight years. Gonnade has also been awarded the Japna Soceity for Promotion of Science Post doctoral Fellwship for 2009-2011.

According to the INSA citation,Dr Anand has been awarded the INSA medal for his original contributions on synthesis and supermolecular properties of isophlorins. He could not be contacted.

The awards,which will be presented in December,carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a bronze medal along with seed money for research projects.

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