The scientific community in Bengaluru is celebrating a remarkable achievement. The Infosys Science Foundation has announced the winners of the prestigious Infosys Prize 2025, and six of the nine laureates are talented researchers based in India's tech capital. In a testament to the city's thriving research ecosystem, all six Bengaluru-based winners are under the age of 40.
Meet the Brilliant Minds from Bengaluru
The awards ceremony, held on January 3, 2025, recognized exceptional work across six categories. The Bengaluru winners have made significant strides in their respective fields, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
In the Engineering and Computer Science category, the prize was awarded to Dr. Siva Athreya from the Indian Statistical Institute. His work in probability theory and its applications stands out for its depth and impact.
The Humanities category winner is Dr. Ananya Chakravarti, an associate professor at Ashoka University. Her profound research delves into the intricate history of the Portuguese empire, with a focus on Goa and Brazil.
Dr. Mahesh M. Bandi from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University was honored in the Physical Sciences category. His innovative studies on the physics of soft and living matter have opened new avenues of understanding.
Recognizing Excellence in Life Sciences and Social Sciences
The Life Sciences prize was conferred upon Dr. Arun Kumar T. from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bengaluru. His research provides critical insights into the complex molecular mechanisms that govern how plants sense and respond to essential nutrients.
In the realm of Social Sciences, Dr. Nikhil Menon, an assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame, was recognized. His scholarly work meticulously examines the history of economic planning and the fascinating role of statistics in post-colonial India.
The Mathematical Sciences award was given to Dr. Ronnie Sebastian from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. His contributions to the field of arithmetic geometry are both pioneering and highly respected by his peers globally.
A Celebration of Youth and Groundbreaking Research
The Infosys Prize is more than just an award; it is a powerful endorsement of India's scientific future. The fact that six out of nine winners hail from a single city underscores Bengaluru's position as a premier hub for research and innovation. Furthermore, the youth of the laureates highlights a vibrant and dynamic generation of thinkers who are already shaping their fields.
Each winner receives a pure gold medal, a citation certificate, and a substantial monetary award of $100,000 (approximately Rs 83 lakh). This generous prize is intended to support their ongoing research endeavors, free from financial constraints.
The selection process, chaired by the esteemed Nobel Laureate Dr. K. Barry Sharpless, involved rigorous scrutiny by expert panels. This ensures that the Infosys Prize maintains its reputation as one of the most credible and sought-after accolades in the region.
The achievements of these six researchers send a strong message about the quality of talent and institutional support present in Bengaluru. Their success is likely to inspire countless other young Indians to pursue careers in research and science, fueling the nation's progress on the global stage.
