Scientist Yash Pal (left), who was awarded the Kalinga Samman last year. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 10: The Kalinga Foundation Trust (KFT), established by former chief minister Biju Patnaik, has decided to introduce “Kalinga Samman” for popularisation of science from 2010. The award will be given to an Oriya scientist.

“The annual prize will be given to an eminent Oriya scientist for his or her contribution to popularise science among the common people. Oriyas working aboard will also be entitled to receive the award,” said information and public relation minister and joint managing trustee of the KFT Prafulla Samal. KFT president Bhawani Patnaik and director of information and public relations B.P. Mohanty were also present.

The foundation has been giving awards at international level to popularise science. In 1959, Biju Patnaik instituted the Kalinga Prize, which was administered by Unesco.

“The Kalinga Prize is given by the Unesco in coordination with the KFT to scientists selected by an international jury. The award is being given since 1952. The Kalinga Prize could not be awarded during the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 due to change in the Unesco rules. The prize is given once in two years,” KFT secretary Bimal Das said.

Asked as to why the institute felt the need to have a separate award for Oriyas, Das said no Oriya was able to get the award even after 63 years of the institution of the award. The KFT decided to institute the award to promote science among the Oriyas.

In 2009, the Kalinga-Unesco prize was awarded jointly to space scientist Professor Yash Pal and Professor Xuan Thuan of Vietnam.

The scientists received £12,000 as cash prize. Of the amount, the Kalinga Foundation gives £4,000, while the Centre and the state government bear £6,000 and £4,000, respectively. The organisation spends £2,000 towards the expenses.

President of Unesco Davidson Hepburn will visit the state on November 12. Kalinga Prize Laureate Professor Yash Pal will be felicitated on this occasion. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik would attend the event, said Samal.

Prior to Yaspal, only four Indians—Jagjit Singh, Narendra K Sehgal, Jayant V Narikar and Dorarajan Balsubramaninan—have received this award in the filed of science. The award has so far been given to 63 people from 22 countries.

Some of the scientists or personalities, who have been awarded the Kalinga Prize, include Louis de Broglie (1952), Julian Huxley (1953), George Gamow (1956), Bertrand Russel (1957), Karl von Frisch (1958), Arthur C Clarke (1961), Fred Hoyle (1967) and Sergei Kapitza (1979).

An asteroid sporting number 26214 was named as “Kalinga” by the Unesco to mark the 50th anniversary of the institution of Kalinga Prize in 2001.