Kalinga Awards, Odisha CM felicitates Xiangyi Li

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today felicitated eminent scientist Prof Xiangyi Li, the winner of the UNESCO Kalinga Prize winner for the year 2013.
The CM conferred Kalinga Samman award to Dr Hara Prasanna Mishra, an eminent scientist and technocrat, for popularisation of science in the state.
Patnaik felicitated the two scientists at a function at Institute of Physics organised by Kalinga Foundation Trust.
Prof Li was earlier in December, 2013 awarded the Kalinga Prize at a function in Paris. The eminent scientist will stay for 12 days in the country and addess students and teachers in different cities.
Receiving the Prize, Prof Li paid encomiums to the great civilizations of ancient India and China. "Scientific spirit is the only way forward to future," he said.

Patnaik said, "I am delighted to felicitate Prof Xiangyi Li, the UNESCO Kalinga Prize Winner for popularisation of science for the year 2013, and presentation of 'Kalinga Samman-2013 to Dr Mishra'.

"Our young scientists should take a leaf out of his books and follow his foot prints to spread the wings of scientific temper, so that the benefits of scientific and technological developments reach the common man," he said.
It is fundamental duty of Indians to develop scientific temper and spirit among citizens, especially students, he said.
In the year 1951, under the banner of Kalinga Foundation Trust, Biju Babu laid the foundation stone through UNESCO, Paris and instituted Kalinga Prize for Popularisation of Science.

So far 67 eminent scientists and science popularisers have received this coveted award from 24 Countries of the World.
Kalinga Samman, a new award was given to eminent metallurgist Dr Hara Prasanna Mishra for popularisation of science in Odisha for the year 2013.
So far, five outstanding personalities of the state have been given this distinction, including Dr Hara Prasanna Mishra.
The award is considered as the highest distinction in the state for popularisation of science.