New Delhi: The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) revealed the winners of the 2024 Infosys Prize on Thursday, November 14, celebrating excellence in research across six categories: economics, engineering and computer science, humanities and social sciences, life sciences, mathematical sciences and physical sciences. The awards ceremony took place at the ISF office in Bengaluru. Winners were chosen by an international panel of scholars and experts.
Arun Chandrasekhar, professor at Stanford University, was awarded for his study of social and economic networks. His research, drawing from data on village networks in Karnataka, has enhanced understanding of development economics and contributed insights for policymaking.
Shyam Gollakota, Professor at the University of Washington, received the prize for developing impactful technologies like smartphone-based healthcare tools, battery-free computing, and AI-enhanced auditory sensing for low- and middle-income countries.
Mahmood Kooria, lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, was honoured for his work on maritime Islam and Islamic law’s influence on economic, political and cultural shifts across the Indian Ocean, particularly in Kerala’s pre-modern era.
Siddhesh Kamat, associate professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, was recognised for his discoveries on bioactive lipids, shedding light on their role in cellular function and implications for human health.
Neena Gupta, professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, was awarded for her work on the Zariski Cancellation Problem in algebraic geometry. Her research has addressed a fundamental question in the field, posed in 1949 by Oscar Zariski.
Vedika Khemani, associate professor at Stanford University, was celebrated for her pioneering contributions to non-equilibrium quantum matter, notably her discovery of time-crystals, which may hold significance for quantum computing.
Also read: Infosys Announces Winners of 2023 Prizes Across Six Categories
The Infosys Prize, the largest science and research award in India, has gained international prestige, with past winners going on to receive honours such as the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal and MacArthur ‘genius’ Grant.
Reflecting on this year’s awards, ISF president Kris Gopalakrishnan noted, “This year, we refocused to reward early career researchers under the age of 40, recognising their immense potential and the promise of paradigm-changing work.”
Founded in 2009, the Infosys Science Foundation is a not-for-profit trust that annually awards the Infosys Prize to honour achievements across six research categories. The prize serves to promote scientific excellence and recognise contributions that significantly impact human life. Each laureate receives a gold medal, citation and $100,000 to support their work.