An International Conference for Celebration of 60th Anniversary of UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularization of Science was held at Bhubaneswar dated 4th & 5th January, 2012. The event was held concurrently with the 99th Indian Science Congress. It was jointly organized by Kalinga Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswar; UNESCO, Paris; Department of Science & Technology, Govt of Odisha and Department of Science & Technology (DST) & Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), Govt. of India. Sri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Sri Bhabani Charan Pattanayak, Chairman, Kalinga Foundation Trust presided over the meeting. Ms. Gretchen Kalonji, Asst. Director General of UNESCO, Paris; Prof. Trinh Xuan Thuan, UNESCO Kalinga Laureate-2009 and Sri Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Chairman, Reception Committee graced the occasion as Guests of Honour. During the occasion, 14 UNESCO Kalinga Laureates and 4 Jury Members from different countries of the world were felicitated by the Chief Guest for their Outstanding Contribution for Popularization of Science. Further, a Book entitled “UNESCO Kalinga Laureates for Universal Peace” containing life and works of 66 UNESCO Kalinga Laureates and a “Souvenir” containing large number of Popular Science Articles contributed by distinguished Science Writers from different parts of the world was also released by the Chief Guest. Large number of Scientists, Science Writers, Science Communicators, Eminent Personalities, Govt. Officials, Distinguished Guests, Students and General Public at large participated in the event . The Celebration was a grand success.

During the two days symposium, large number of Scientific Presentations was made by the UNESCO Kalinga Laureates from different countries of the world on various issues on Popularization of Science. The concluding session was held on 5th January evening wherein Sri Muralidhar Chandrakanta Bhandare, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha was the Chief Guest. The meeting was presided over by Sri Bhabani Charan Pattanayak, Chairman, Kalinga Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswar. Sri Prafulla Kumar Ghadai, Trustee, KFT & Hon’ble Minister, Govt. of Odisha; Sri Prafulla Kumar Samal, Jt. Managing Trustee & Hon’ble Minister, Govt. of Odisha; Sri Bimal Das, Secretary-cum-Treasurer, KFT; Prof. T.K.Chandrashekar, Director, NISER and Ms.Gretchen Kalonji, Asst. Director General, UNESCO, Paris graced the occasion as Guests of Honour. Prof. Gokulananda Mohapatra , Noted Science Writer of Odisha was presented the “ Kalinga Samman” for Popularization of Science for the year-2011 by the Hon’ble Governor of Odisha. The event will remain as a milestone in the annals of history of UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularization of Science.