News
Indian-Origin Professor Joyeeta Gupta Awarded ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’ For Her Research On Just And Sustainable World
Professor Joyeeta Gupta said, The scientists who have received this award in the past represent the absolute best of Dutch academia, so I’m honoured to be considered alongside them
London: Indian-origin professor Joyeeta Gupta is among the two scientists who have been named for the prestigious Spinoza Prize, also known as the Dutch Nobel Prize, it was announced on Wednesday (June 7). Ms. Gupta, the faculty professor of Sustainability and professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam, received the prize for her outstanding, pioneering, and inspiring scientific work in which she focuses on a just and sustainable world, the Dutch Research Council said.
Ms. Gupta will be officially presented with the highest distinction in Dutch science on October 4 alongside Toby Kiers, another scientist chosen for the award, the council said in a statement. Toby Kiers is a professor of Mutualistic Interactions at the University of Amsterdam. Ms. Gupta will receive 1.5 million euros to spend on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilisation, the statement said.
Sometimes called the ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’, the Spinoza prize is the highest award in Dutch academia and is awarded each year to researchers working in the Netherlands who according to international standards belong to the absolutely best researchers worldwide. Ms. Gupta said,
The scientists who have received this award in the past represent the absolute best of Dutch academia, so I’m honoured to be considered alongside them
Ms. Gupta, who is also co-chair of the Earth Commission founded by Future Earth and supported by the Global Challenges Foundation, said she would work towards implementing her ideas on sharing ‘ecospace’ (environmental utilisation space) globally that aims to protect environmental conditions in an equitable manner worldwide and would be a fitting way to bring global environmental and developmental issues together.
Ms. Gupta’s research focused on how to solve issues arising from climate change through good governance, the statement said,
At the core of her research is an attempt to unravel the connections between the climate crisis, global water challenges, possible solutions and justice. To this end, her work brings together various scientific disciplines, from international law and economics to political science, development studies and environmental studies
Peter-Paul Verbeek, Rector Magnificus of the University of Amsterdam, said,
Justice for both people and the planet is the common thread in Joyeeta’s work. She is relentlessly committed to climate justice, always looking beyond the boundaries of disciplines, realising that this is the only way to approach the climate issue
The Spinoza Prize has been awarded annually since 1995.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Launches Mass Tree Planting Drive
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.