Prof. Hardev Singh Virk, a pioneer in interdisciplinary research in India, has been honoured with FRAY International Sustainability Award for his ground-breaking research in irradiating minerals, glasses, polymers and other insulators using heavy ion beams. His outstanding contributions to understanding the health hazards by measuring Radon concentration in air, soil and groundwater and earthquake prediction in the Himalayas have led to the development of applications for sustainable development of the region. Fray International Sustainability Award,named after Prof. Derek Fray of Cambridge University, is conferred, since 2011, to prominent academics, CEOs, Politicians and Institutions globally.

Fray International Sustainability Award was conferred to Prof. Virk by Dr. Florian Kongoli, the Chair of the symposium and President of SIPS 2022, The Sustainability Through Science and Technology/Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit, held in Phuket, Thailand, from 27 Nov. to 1 Dec. 2022. The award ceremony, held on 29 November 2022, was attended by many eminent international scientists, CEOs, and nine Nobel Laureates.

Given Prof. Virk’s excellent contributions to science and technology, Virk International Symposium on Physics, Technology & Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development was also organized as part of SIPS 2022, in which twenty eminent scientists presented their research findings.

Prof. Hardev Singh Virk is the First Punjabi Sikh and First Indian (from India) to be conferred with this prestigious award for his scientific research in diverse areas of Radiation Physics, Earthquake and Radon Studies, Nanotechnology, Environmental Sustainability, and Heavy Metal contamination in Groundwater of Punjab. The Sustainability Through Science and Technology/Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit (SIPS), a multidimensional and multidisciplinary summit, is being organized by FLOGEN STARS OUTREACH, a not-for-profit international organization annually since 2003.

References:

• The Sustainability through Science and Technology/Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit: https://www.flogen.org/sips2022/
• Virk International Symposium on Physics, Technology & Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development: https://www.flogen.org/sips2022/Hardev_Singh_Virk.php
• Flogen Stars Outreach: https://www.flogen.org/
• Fray International Sustainability Award: https://www.flogen.org/?p=36
• Award Ceremony of Prof. Virk: https://youtu.be/Ucb_uyPJ9PI
• Award website: https://www.flogen.org/?p=38&bio=Virk
• Singh, D. P. (2020, Feb 27). An International Physicist and A Dedicated Proponent of Sikhism- Prof. Hardev Singh Virk. Sikh Philosophy Network. Chandigarh, India.
  https://www.sikhphilosophy.net/threads/interview-of-prof-hardev-singh-virk-by-dr-d-p-singh.51442/

(Dr. Devinder Pal Singh, M.Sc., Ph. D., is a Physicist by training, an academician by profession and an author by choice.

Website: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Devinder-Singh-4 )