Infosys Announces 2024 Winners, Introduces New Age Limit
Bengaluru, Nov 14 (ANI): The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) recently announced the winners of the Infosys Prize 2024 in six categories, including Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. This year's selections featured researchers under the age of 40, marking a significant shift from previous thresholds.
According to Kris Gopalakrishnan, President of the Infosys Science Foundation, this change is intended to provide "more runway" for the new laureates, emphasizing their immense potential and promise for paradigm-changing work. By introducing this new policy, the foundation aims to give emerging talent more opportunities to make meaningful contributions to research and science.
Among the winners, Arun Chandrasekhar from Stanford University was awarded in Economics for his research on social and economic networks, particularly through data collection and mapping in Karnataka, which enhances development economics policy insights. Shyam Gollakota from the University of Washington received recognition for his research on smartphone-based healthcare tools and battery-free computing that address societal needs.
Mahmood Kooria, Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded in Humanities and Social Sciences for his pioneering studies on maritime Islam, focusing on its economic and cultural impacts along the Indian Ocean littorals. The award for Life Sciences went to Siddhesh Kamat, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, for his research on bioactive lipids and their implications for cellular functions and human diseases.
Mathematical Sciences laureate Neena Gupta from the Indian Statistical Institute was recognized for her groundbreaking work on the Zariski Cancellation Problem in algebraic geometry. Physical Sciences award winner Vedika Khemani, Associate Professor at Stanford University, made significant contributions to theoretical and experimental quantum matter, notably discovering time-crystals.
While highlighting the significance of recognizing emerging talent, the decision has sparked concerns within the academic community. Many experts worry that this shift may deprive deserving researchers in India of opportunities to win prestigious awards, as they are just beginning their careers and establishing themselves in their fields.