Tyler Prize 2015 for Environmental Achievement

Gadgil and Lubchenco share Tyler Prize 2015 for Environmental Achievement

Eminent Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil from Goa University and renowned American marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco from Oregon State University will be sharing this year’s Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Lubchenco has shaped smart policies involving ocean sustainability and health along with the fishing communities in the US. Similarly, Gadgil has connected conservation and ecological policy-making with the indigenous communities in India.

Both of them have been successfully promoting ecology and biodiversity conservation as well as climate change mitigation within relevant social and economical contexts. The $200,000 cash award will be shared by Lubchenco and Gadgil and each will honored with a gold medal in April, this year. The Tyler Prize, which was first established in 1973, is awarded to world-class achievers in the field of environmental science, environmental health, energy and policy, and is conducted with the administrative support of the University of Southern California. Gadgil is the second Indian to receive this award after M. S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution.

Gadgil contributed significantly in drafting India’s National Biodiversity Act, 2002. He also notably chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, called Gadgil Committee to guide the protection and development of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gadgil’s work is not only about highlighting environmental conservation policy-making with local engagement, but also dispensing the need for sound environmental science research nationally. The ecologist, a Padmashri and Padma Bhushan awardee, chaired the Science and Technology Advisory Panel of Global Environment Facility and was a member of the Science Advisory Council. He is a fellow/honorary member of a few Indian and international science bodies and has also received several national and international prizes for his contribution to ecological conservation.

Lubencho, a professor and adviser in Marine Studies at Oregon State University, has worked on issues such as protection of marine health, ecology and spreading awareness of ocean conservation and sustainability. The marine ecologist served as the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. During that period she effectively blended ocean science with different regions and fishing communities and developed policies which balanced conservation with social and economic needs, her ‘catch share’ model being one prime example. Lubencho was also made the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the International Council for Science and the Ecological Society of America.

The Tyler Prize Executive Committee and the international environmental community have arranged for a banquet and ceremony to be held in honor of Gadgil and Lubencho on April 24 next month.

World Food Prize Winners List (1987-2015)

WORLD FOOD PRIZE (1987-2015)

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, The World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The prize was endowed by John Ruan Sr. Continuing his legacy, Iowa businessman John Ruan III now serves as chairman of the organization. A Selection Committee of experts from around the world oversees the nomination and selection process, and is chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, who was also the first World Food Prize Laureate.

An Indian aqua-culturist, Mr. Modadugu V. Gupta, research coordinator for the Penang-based World Fish Centre in Malaysia, was named winner of the coveted World Food Prize in 2011, equivalent to the Nobel Prize in Food and Agriculture, for his work in enhancing nutrition for millions of people in South and Southeast Asia, mostly the very poor. He is the sixth Indian to receive this prize. Earlier Indian recipients include Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Dr. Gurdev Khush, Mr. B.R. Barwale and Dr. Surinder K. Vasal.

1987 - Prof. M. S. Swaminathan (India) He is introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties to India starting India's Green Revolution.

1989 - Dr Verghese Kurien (India) Founder of Operation Flood the largest agricultural development program in the world made the farmer the owner of his cooperative, cutting out middlemen. India emerged as the largest producer of milk in 1998 from milk scarcity when he started.

1996 -  Dr Henry Beachell (United States) and Dr Gurdev Khush (India) Developing "miracle rice" varieties that doubled rice production in Asia since their development.

1998 - Dr B. R. Barwale (India) Founder of independent seed company Mahyco, strengthening seed supply and distribution throughout India.

2000 -  Dr Evangelina Villegas (Mexico) and Dr Surinder K. Vasal (India) Developing high quality protein maize (QPM).

2005 -  Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta (India) - Development and dissemination of low-cost techniques for freshwater fish farming (using tilapia species) by the rural poor.

2006 -  Edson Lobato (Brazil), His Excellency Alysson Paolinelli (Brazil) and Dr A. Colin McClung (United States)

2007 -  Dr Philip E. Nelson (United States)

2008 - Bob Dole and George McGovern (both from United States) - Leading and encouraging a global commitment to school feeding, which has enhanced school attendance and nutrition for millions of the world's poorest children, especially young women and girls.

2009 -  Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia got the World Food Prize for 2009.

2010 -  David Becamann and Jo Luck (both of USA) got this prize for the year 2010.

2011 -  John Agyekum Kufuor (Ghana) and Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva (Brazil) have been chosen to jointly receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the presidents of Ghana and Brazil respectively in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in their countries.

2012 -  Daniel Hillel is the winner of 2012 World Food Prize. He is an Israeli scientist-master of drip irrigation system.

2013 -  Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton (United States), Dr Robert Fraley (United States) and Dr Marc Van Montagu (Belgium). They were developed science of modern plant biotechnology supporting improved sustainability and global food security.

2014 – Renowned agriculture scientist-Sanjaya Rajaram has been selected for World Food Prize, 2014.

2015 – Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh, the internationally renowned founder and chairperson of BRAC (world’s largest non-governmental organization), will be honored as the 2015 World Food Prize.

2015 World Food Prize Laureate  Sir Fazle Hasan Abed

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed  BANGLADESH Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh, the internationally renowned founder and chairperson of BRAC, will be honored as the 2015 World Food Prize Laureate for his unparalleled achievement in building a unique, integrated development organization that many have hailed as the most effective anti-poverty organization in the world.   Sir Fazle, who was knighted by the British Crown in 2009, has grown BRAC (formerly known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) into the world’s largest non-governmental organization. BRAC has provided the opportunity for nearly 150 million people worldwide to improve their lives, have enhanced food security and follow a pathway out of poverty. The scale and impact of BRAC's work in Bangladesh and ten other countries is unprecedented. He pioneered a new approach to development that has effectively and sustainably addressed the interconnectedness between hunger and poverty. In this regard, Sir Fazle has broken new ground by melding scalable development models, scientific innovation, and local participation to confront the complex causes of poverty, hunger, and powerlessness among the poor.

2014 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram

INDIA AND MEXICO

The eminent plant scientist Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram, born in India and a citizen of Mexico, will be honored as the 2014 World Food Prize Laureate for his scientific research that led to a prodigious increase in world wheat production – by more than 200 million tons – building upon the successes of the Green Revolution.  

His breakthrough breeding technologies have had a far-reaching and significant impact in providing more nutritious food around the globe and alleviating world hunger. Dr. Rajaram succeeded Dr. Norman Borlaug in leading CIMMYT's wheat breeding program, and developed an astounding 480 wheat varieties that have been released in 51 countries on six continents and have been widely adopted by small- and large-scale farmers alike. 

National Film Awards - 2015

62nd National Film Awards - 2015

Twin wins for Queen Kangana Ranaut

A still from Bengali film Chatushkone

A still from Tamil from Jigarthanda


A still from Hindi film Mary Kom

Complete list of winners:

Best Hindi Film: Queen

Best Assamese Film: Othello

Best Bengali Film: Nirbashito

Best Kannada Film: Harivu

Best Konkani Film: Nachom - IA Kumpasar

Best Malayalam Film: Ain

Best Marathi Film: Killa

Best Odiya Film: Aadim Vichar

Best Punjabi Film: Punjab 1984

Best Tamil Film: Kuttram Kadithal

Best Telugu Film: Chandamama Kathalu

Best Rabha Film: Orong

Best Haryanvi Film: Pagdi The Honour

Best Music Direction:

(a) Songs - Haider (Hindi)

(b) Background Score - Nineteen Eighty Three (Malayalam)

Best Choreography: Bismil for Haider

Special Mention 

Ain (Malayalam)

Nachom - IA Kumpasar (Konkani)

Killa (Marathi)

Bhootnath Returns (Hindi)

Best Educational Film: Komal & Behind the Glass Wall

Best Exploration/Adventure: Film Life Force - India's Western Ghats

Best Investigative Film: Phum Shang

Best Animation Film: Sound of Joy

Best Short Fiction Film: Mitraa

Best Film Critic: Tanul Thakur

Best Writing on Cinema: Silent Cinema: (1895-1930) - Pasupuleti Purnachandra Rao

Best Writing on Cinema: G. Dhananjayan for Pride of Tamil Cinema (Special Mention)

Best Costume Designer: Dolly Ahluwalia for Haider

Best Female Playback Singer: Uttara Unnikrishanan for song Azhagu in Saivam (Tamil)

Best Male Playback Singer: Sukhwinder Singh for song Bismil from Haider

Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for Queen

Best Supporting Actress: Baljinder Kaur for Pagdi The Honour (Haryanavi)

Best Supporting Actor: Bobby Simhaa for Jigarthanda (Tamil)

Best Actor: Vijay for Nanu Avanalla Avalu (Kannada)

Best Direction: Srijit Mukherji for Chotushkone (Bengali)

Best Film on Environment Conservation/ Preservation: Ottaal (Malayalam)

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Mary Kom

Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Asha Jaoar Majhe (Bengali)

Best Feature Film: Court (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati & English)

BAFTA Awards-2015

BAFTA Awards-2015

The BAFTA Awards were handed out at the Royal Opera House tonight in London, and IFC Films’ Boyhood took the big prize with the Best Film award, its third overall nod of the night including for director Richard Linklater and supporting actress Patricia Arquette. Fox Searchlight’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, which debuted almost exactly a year ago at the Berlin Film Festival, led the way this year with 11 nominations and picked up a leading five wins, including for Wes Anderson’s original screenplay.

Focus Features’ The Theory Of Everything and Sony Pictures Classics’ Whiplash also won three awards apiece, the former taking the BAFTA for Best British Film and Lead Actor Eddie Redmayne, who along with Still Alice‘s Julianne more solidified their frontrunner status in those Oscar categories with their victories.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

BEST FILM: BOYHOOD - Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland

LEADING ACTRESS: JULIANNE MOORE - Still Alice

LEADING ACTOR: EDDIE REDMAYNE - The Theory of Everything

DIRECTOR: BOYHOOD - Richard Linklater

EE RISING STAR: Jack O’Connell

COSTUME DESIGN: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Milena Canonero

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - Anthony McCarten

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: IDA - Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Wes Anderson

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER: STEPHEN BERESFORD (Writer), DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Producer)

Pride

CINEMATOGRAPHY: BIRDMAN - Emmanuel Lubezki

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: PATRICIA ARQUETTE - Boyhood

SUPPORTING ACTOR: J.K. SIMMONS - Whiplash

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS: INTERSTELLAR - Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter

ANIMATED FILM: THE LEGO MOVIE - Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

SOUND: WHIPLASH - Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann

EDITING: WHIPLASH - Tom Cross

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION: THE BIGGER PICTURE - Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka

BRITISH SHORT FILM: BOOGALOO AND GRAHAM - Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney

PRODUCTION DESIGN: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock

MAKE UP & HAIR: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Frances Hannon

DOCUMENTARY: CITIZENFOUR - Laura Poitras

ORIGINAL MUSIC: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Alexandre Desplat

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM: THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

Grammy Awards 2015

57th Grammy Awards 2015

Ricky Kej (L) and Wouter Kellerman of Winds of Samsara pose with their trophy that they won in the new age album category at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.

India-based Ricky Kej’s collaborated album Winds Of Samsara won the Best New Age Album trophy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards here.

Ricky teamed up with South African musician Wouter Kellerman for the album, which symbolises peace and harmony.

The website of the album describes the project as a “truly global effort”, which draws inspiration from two cultures. The music of the album blends in the creative influences of the cultures to generate a sound of calmness and positivity.

Other albums nominated in the category were Bhakti by Paul Avgerinos, Ritual by Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai, Symphony Live In Istanbul by Kitaro and In Love And Longing by Silvia Nakkach and David Darling.

Another Indian artist to make it big at the awards this year was Neela Vaswani. She won the trophy in the Best Children’s Album category for I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai). Vaswani narrated the audio version of the book.

However, sitarist and daughter of the late sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, Anoushka, who was nominated for her album Traces of You in the Best World Music Album category lost out to Angelique Kidjo’s album Eve.

 The Complete Winners List

From Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament (and Eddie Vedder, using his pseudonym "Jerome Turner") scoring Best Recording Package to Beyoncé taking home Best Surround Sound Album, here is the full rundown of all the winners at the 57th annual Grammy Awards. We'll be updating this post as each winner is announced, so check back for the full list.

Record of the Year

Sam Smith – "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)"

Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes & Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer Label: Capitol Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Songs LLC obo Naughty Worlds Ltd./Universal-Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Salli Isaak Songs, Ltd./Universal Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Method Paperwork

Song of the Year

Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)"

James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters

Album of the Year

Beck - Morning Phase

Beck Hansen, producer; Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Best New Artist

Sam Smith

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera - "Say Something"

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Cheek To Cheek

Best Pop Solo Performance

Pharrell Williams - "Happy"

Best Pop Vocal Album

Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour

Best Rock Performance

Jack White - "Lazaretto"

Best Rock Album

Beck - Morning Phase

Best Rock Song

Paramore - "Ain't It Fun"

Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters

Best Alternative Rock Album

St. Vincent - St. Vincent

Best Metal Performance

Tenacious D - "The Last In Line"

Best Rap Performance

Kendrick Lamar - "I"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Eminem Featuring Rihanna - "The Monster"

Best Rap Song

Kendrick Lamar - "I"

K. Duckworth & C. Smith, songwriters

Best Rap Album

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP2

Best R&B Performance

Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z – "Drunk In Love"

Best Traditional R&B Performance

"Jesus Children"

Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Lalah Hathaway & Malcolm-Jamal Warne

Best R&B Song

Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z - "Drunk In Love"

Shawn Carter, Rasool Diaz, Noel Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Beyoncé Knowles, Timothy Mosely, Andre Eric Proctor & Brian Soko, songwriters

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Pharrell Williams - Girl

Best R&B Album

Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer - Bass & Mandolin

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Aphex Twin - Syro

Best Dance Recording

Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne - "Rather Be"

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Frozen

Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Let It Go" from Frozen

Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel)

Best Country Album

Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Best Country Solo Performance

Carrie Underwood - "Something In The Water"

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

The Band Perry - "Gentle On My Mind"

Best Country Song

"I'm Not Gonna Miss You"

Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)

Best Bluegrass Album

The Earls Of Leicester - The Earls Of Leicester

Best American Roots Performance

Rosanne Cash - "A Feather's Not A Bird"

Best American Roots Song

Rosanne Cash - "A Feather's Not A Bird"

Best Americana Album

Rosanne Cash - The River & The Thread

Best Folk Album

Old Crow Medicine Show - Remedy

Best Music Video

Pharrell Williams - "Happy"

Best Music Film

20 Feet From Stardom

Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill

Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers, video producers

We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Solal Micenmacher, Jett Steiger, video producers

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Max Martin

"Bang Bang" (Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj)

"Break Free" (Ariana Grande Featuring Zedd)

"Dark Horse" (Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J)

"Problem" (Ariana Grande Featuring Iggy Azalea)

"Shake It Off" (Taylor Swift)

"Unconditionally" (Katy Perry)

Best Instrumental Composition

John Williams - "The Book Thief"

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Pentatonix - "Daft Punk"

Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals

Billy Childs - "New York Tendaberry"

Best Recording Package

Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix & Jerome Turner, art directors

Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood & Jack White, art directors

The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27)

Best Album Notes

Ashley Kahn

John Coltrane - Offering: Live At Temple University

Best Historical Album

Colin Escott & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer

Hank Williams - The Garden Spot Programs, 1950

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Beck - Morning Phase

Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer

John Legend – "All Of Me (Tiesto's Birthday Treatment Remix)"

Best Surround Sound Album

Beyoncé - Beyoncé

Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Beyoncé Knowles, surround producer

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Jo-El Sonnier - The Legacy

Best Reggae Album

Ziggy Marley - Fly Rasta

Best World Music Album

Angelique Kidjo - Eve

Best Children's Album

Neela Vaswani - I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai)

Best Musical Theatre Album

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell & Billy Jay Stein, producers (Carole King, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Blues Album

Johnny Winter - Step Back

Best Spoken Word Album

Joan Rivers - Diary Of A Mad Diva

Best Comedy Album

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun

Best New Age Album

Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman - Winds Of Samsara

Best Improved Jazz Solo

Chick Corea - "Fingerprints"

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Dianne Reeves - Beautiful Life

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Chick Corea Trio - Trilogy

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - Life In The Bubble

Best Latin Jazz Album

Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - The Offense Of The Drum