Odia woman scientist becomes first Indian to bring home IUPAC honour

By Nalini Sahu

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 14: A woman scientist from Odisha has brought laurels to the country by becoming the first Indian to receive the prestigious International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Award 2023.

Professor Jyotirmayee Mohanty, a scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India has received the IUPAC 2023 award under the Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering category.

Mohanty is the daughter of noted pediatrician Dr Baikuntnath Patra of Chauliaganj in Cuttack. She is married to Rasmiranjan Mohanty, a scientist.

The IUPAC 2023 award was announced on February 11 to celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science and 12 persons including Mohanty were nominated for the award under Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering category. 

The awards program, initiated as part of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry celebrations, was created to acknowledge and promote the work of women chemists/chemical engineers worldwide. Each year since 2011, the award has gained more attention in the global community.

As per IUPAC, these 12 awardees have been selected based on excellence in basic or applied research, distinguished accomplishments in teaching or education, or demonstrated leadership or managerial excellence in the chemical sciences.

BJP national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda congratulated Jyotirmayee Mohanty for the prestigious award. “It takes a giant will to make a mark in science. How much pride it gives me that Jyotirmayee Mohanty, an Odia scientist at BARC being recognized for her work and becoming first Indian to be felicitated with International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Award 2023,” he wrote.