Dr Rene Raul Drucker Colin to get Unesco Kalinga Prize-2011

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (PTI) Rene Raul Drucker Colin of Mexico was today named as the winner of the prestigious Unesco Kalinga Prize for the year 2011 for his contribution to popularise science among common men, according to an announcement made by the Kalinga Foundation Trust (KFT). "Dr Drucker Colin will receive the Unesco Kalinga Prize 2011 for his contribution to popularise science among common men," KFT president B C Patnaik. The winner of the Unesco Kalinga Prize gets a cash award of USD 20,000, Unesco Albert Einstein Silver Medal and a citation. The winner also gets the award of Kalinga Chair introduced by the Government of India to mark the 50th anniversary of Kalinga Prize. The holder of the Kalinga Chair travels to India for a period of two to four weeks as a guest of government of India and delivers talks on popularisation of science at different educational institutions. Kalinga Chair also carries a token honorarium of USD 5,000. "The Unesco Kalinga Prize to be conferred at a special function is scheduled to be held here on January 3, 2012. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to present the prize here," Patnaik said adding the Kalinga Prize was set up by Biju Patnaik in the year 1952 as part of promoting pularisation of science among common people. The prize was renamed as Unesco Kalinga Prize in 2009. So far, 66 eminent scientists from 23 countries, including 5 Indians, have received the prize. Seven Nobel Laureates have also been bestowed with the Kalinga Prize, Patnaik said.