London — Three Indian scientists have emerged as winners of the prestigious 2024 Blavatnik awards for young scientists in the UK. Prof Rahul R Nair, Prof Mehul Malik, and Dr Tanmay Bharat are among the nine recipients of the award, jointly instituted by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences.

The awards, totaling £480,000, recognize outstanding research efforts that are transforming fields such as medicine, technology, and our understanding of the world in chemical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, and life sciences.

Prof Rahul R Nair, a materials physicist at The University of Manchester, has been named Laureate in Physical Sciences and Engineering. He will receive £100,000 for his groundbreaking work in developing novel membranes based on two-dimensional (2D) materials, enabling energy-efficient separation and filtration technologies. His research utilizes graphene and other 2D materials to explore applications addressing societal challenges like water filtration.

Prof Mehul Malik, a quantum physicist and professor of physics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, has been honored for advancing quantum communications. His techniques harness high-dimensional entanglement, a complex quantum physics phenomenon, enabling robust and high-capacity quantum networks that securely transmit large amounts of information over long distances.

Dr Tanmay Bharat, a structural microbiologist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, was awarded for his work in tackling human health. Using cutting-edge electron cryotomography (cryo-ET) techniques, he studies the mechanisms of biofilm and microbiome formation. His research, providing atomic-level pictures of cell surface molecules on microorganisms, has significant biomedical implications for understanding antibiotic-resistant biofilm communities.

The three Indian scientists will be honored at a Gala ceremony at Banqueting House in London on February 27 and will share their insights at a public symposium at the RSA House on February 28. These awards showcase the remarkable contributions of Indian scientists on the global stage, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and innovation.