Kalinga Prize

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, 7th

, who won the

in 1929, was the first

recipient of the Kalinga Prize.

The

Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science

is an award given by

for exceptional skill in

. It was

created in 1952, following a donation from

, Founder President of the

Kalinga Foundation Trust

Background

[

]

The recipient of this annual award must have demonstrated – during a brilliant

career as writer, editor, lecturer, film producer, radio/television programme

director or presenter

– talent in interpreting science and technology for the

public. The recipient should have striven to emphasize the international importance

of science and technology and the contribution they make to improving public

welfare, enriching the cultural heritage of nations, and solving problems facing

humanity. Many past prize winners have been scientists, while others have been

trained in journalism or have been educators or writers.

Each member state is entitled to nominate a single candidate, through its National

Commission for UNESCO, on the recommendation of the national associations for the

advancement of science or other science associations, or national associations of

or science journalists. Applications from individuals are not accepted.

The laureate is selected by the Director-General of UNESCO upon the recommendation of a four-member jury designated by

him. Three members of the jury from different countries of the world are designated on the basis of equitable

geographical distribution and the fourth on the recommendation of the Kalinga Foundation Trust.

The Kalinga Prize is awarded during the Celebration of the

World Science Day

in odd years (2003, 2005, etc.) and in

New Delhi,

, in even years. Under the terms of the Prize, the recipient receives forty thousand dollars

(US$40,000) and a UNESCO

. The recipient is also awarded the Ruchi Ram Sahni Chair,

introduced by the Government of India in 2001 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kalinga Prize. As holder of the

Ruchi Ram Sahni Chair, the winner travels to India for a period of two to four weeks as the guest of the Government of

India. The Chair also comprises a token honorarium of US$5,000. In the years when the award ceremony take place during

the celebration of the World Science Day, the recipient travels to the city where the science day is being celebrated

(2003 in

) as the guest of UNESCO. In the years when it is awarded in New Delhi, the recipient is invited, as

the guest of the Kalinga Foundation Trust, to undertake a brief lecture tour in India. For this reason, it is

preferable that the recipient be proficient in English.

Each National Commission for UNESCO proposes a candidate only on the recommendation of the national associations for

the advancement of science or other science associations, or national associations of science writers or scientific

journalists.

The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is administered by the Science Analysis and Policies Division of

UNESCO.

Kalinga Prize laureates

[

]

Year

Recipient

Country

1952

1953

1954

1955

[

]

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

no award

1974

[

]

1975

no award

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

[

]

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

Saad Ahmed Shabaan

1990

Misbah-Ud-Din Shami

1991

Radu Iftimovici

1992

[

]

Peter Okebukola

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Marisela Salvatierra

2003

2004

2005

[

]

2006–2008

No awards due to change of UNESCO rules

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

Source (1952–2021):

UNESCO

. 2023

. Retrieved

December 24,

2025

Statistics

[

]

By 2021 the prize had been awarded to 71 people from 26 countries:

Country

No. of Awards

United Kingdom

10 times

USA

8 times

France

7 times

India

5 times

Russia (inc. Soviet Union)

5 times

Brazil

Venezuela

4 times

Mexico

Pakistan

2 times

Germany

Italy

Canada

Argentina

1 time

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Bangladesh

Belgium

China

Czech Republic

Finland

Egypt

Ghana

Romania

Nigeria

Philippines

Vietnam

Kalinga Samman

[

]

From 2010, the Kalinga Foundation Trust instituted a state level prize under the name

Kalinga Samman for

Popularization of Science

. The award will be presented annually to an eminent scientist and science litterateur

from the state of

for outstanding contribution for popularization of science among the public.

Kalinga Samman laureates

[

]

Source:

Year

Recipient

2010

Pramod Kumar Mohapatra

2011

2012

Basanta Kumar Behura

2013

Hara Prasanna Mishra

2014

2015

2016

Dwijesh Kumar Panda

2017

Jnanadeva Maharana

2018

Birendra Kishore Das

2019

Nimai Charan Panda