Infosys Prize 2024 honours six researchers under 40

The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) celebrated outstanding achievements in research and innovation by awarding the Infosys Prize 2024 to six scholars during a felicitation ceremony here on Saturday.

The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) celebrated outstanding achievements in research and innovation by awarding the Infosys Prize 2024 to six scholars during a felicitation ceremony here on Saturday.

In its 16th year, the eligibility criteria were revised to honour researchers under the age of 40, emphasising early recognition for exceptional talent. The winners were felicitated for their work across six disciplines: economics, engineering and computer science, humanities and social sciences, life sciences, mathematical sciences, and physical sciences.

The 2024 prize for economics was awarded to Arun Chandrasekhar of Stanford University for his work on social and economic networks. His research, which includes data mapping from Karnataka villages, offers insights into network roles in economic development and policymaking.

The prize for engineering and computer science went to Shyam Gollakota of the University of Washington for innovations such as smartphone-based healthcare tools and battery-free computing, addressing critical societal needs.

Mahmood Kooria of the University of Edinburgh received the prize for humanities and social sciences for his work on maritime Islam, particularly its economic and cultural impact along the Indian Ocean littoral.

The prize for life sciences was awarded to Siddhesh Kamat of IISER, Pune, for his research on bioactive lipids, revealing their significance in cellular functions and diseases.

Neena Gupta from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, was recognised for resolving the Zariski cancellation problem, a longstanding challenge in algebraic geometry.