Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 21: Dinesh Hegde from Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, who went to the USA, has made his home state proud by winning NASA's Future Investigator Award. He also will receive a cash prize of $1,35,000 (Rs 1.2 crore). Hegde had completed his BSc degree from Yuvaraja College Mysuru and secured MSc degree in physics from Mysore University.

The research proposal submitted by the two doctoral students of Alabama University, Huntsville (UAH), under the NASA Earth and Space Science Technology grant, has been chosen for the NASA Future Investigator Award. Catherine Davidson and Dinesh Vasant Hegde will get $1,35,000 each. In its newsletter published in the university's official website, the university said that this amount will be disbursed by way of stipend for meeting tuition, research activities, travel expenses, workshops and to attend conferences. The amount will be disbursed through the University of Alabama Huntsville.

 
Dinesh Hegde

Hegde is a second year doctoral student. He has been working as research assistant in the space science department and Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research at UAH. The grant now given is meant to help him continue with his research.

The matter of research is the method of studying space climate that is highly volatile. Dr Nicoloy Pogorelov, special professor in space science, has provided advice and guidance on this research.

Dinesh was active in cultural programmes along with pursuing science even in his college days. He was identified with the 'Nirantara' theater group at Mysuru. He also took part in several college drama festivals. He said he is happy that he has won such a big award to conduct research on the sun, about whom he has unending curiosity.

NASA gives this award to degree students pursuing research in one or more subjects. Hegde said he initially thought that his project was not selected but when the offer letter was received, he had to believe his eyes.