Minister Dhamala stresses agro based technology
Minister for Science and Technology Kalpana Dhamala has said that the nation’s scientific and technological development should be based on agriculture as the large numbers of the people are dependent upon the agriculture profession.
Addressing the 29th anniversary of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Tuesday, Minister Dhamala also stressed the need for the restructure of the Ministry for the appropriate development in the sector of science and technology of the country.
NAST vice-chancellor Surendra Raj Kafle informed about the Science Learning Center that will provide practical classes to the students of schools and colleges of remote village of Nepal. VC Kafle also gave thanks to all the people who take part the programme.
On the occasion Minister Dhamal distributed prizes and felicitation letter to people contributing in the sectors of science and technology. During the programme, Madhav Raj Pandey was awarded with Science and Technology prize for his outstanding contribution in seismology in Nepal.
Similarly, Dr Luna Bhatta Sharma has been awarded with Youth Science and Technology Prize for discovering causes of transmitting various types of vaccines (for controlling Measles) at chicken embryonie and fibroblast cells and Dr. Prabin Bikram Thapa for extending laparoscopic surgery at hospitals in Nepal.
Likewise, Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha, Dr Bijaya Aryal and Dr. Anjana Devkota were also awarded with Youth Science and Technology Prize. Shrestha and Aryal were recognized for developing the concept of greenery city in Nepal and analytical study in substantia nigra respectively while Devkota was rewarded for finding out necessary facts for professionalizing Centella asiatica, an herbal medicine popular in rural belt of Nepal.
Similarly, Academy Science and Technology Promotion Award went to Prof. Dr Keshav Parajuli and Dr. Haribhakta Upadhya Adhikari jointly. Prajuli was awarded for his citation at Molecular technology to combat Malaria in Nepal while Adhikari was awarded for his contribution in stone.
Tilak Bahadur Bhandari was awarded with Mohandhoj Basnet technological prize and Jeevan Shrestha was granted with Jeet Bahadur Nakarmi Dhatu Prize. Likewise,Ram Pd Rimal and Laxman Pd Rimal also famous as twin brothers, were awarded with Bhupaneswar Technology Prize.
Three scientists Dr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Dr, Hari Bahadur KC and Dr. Rosa Ranjit took hold of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) prize in the genre of Physics, Biology and Chemistry respectively. Ghimire was picked up for the prize for his outstanding contribution in using the first principles full –potential augmented plane wave method while KC was recognized for his role in isolating entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) form the soil of Nepal. Ranjit was honored for isolating and characterizing bioactive molecules from leucosceptrum canum.
