KATHMANDU, 6 December, 2023: Getting an award for professional work from one’s country of origin is a commendable achievement. This is what happened with Melbourne, Australia-based scientist Dr. Raju Adhikari who has been awarded the first non-resident Nepali science and technology award. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda presented the award at a ceremony organised by the Nepal Science and Technology Institute (NAST) on 6th December, 2023. Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Chief Executive Officer Rajendra Kumar Raut accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Adhikari.
Dr. Adhikari has so far registered 26 patents and has nearly 100 research articles published in various professional journals. He was awarded for his contribution for the development of science and technology globally developing new types of environment friendly plastic materials for application in health, agriculture, Organic Light Emitting Diodes , electrically conducting, food application through patents and scientific publications , and contributing to Nepal science and technology through Nepal Science Foundation Trust, Skill Knowledge and Innovation Committee (SKI), NRNA and other diaspora organisation Currently he is working as a scientist at the CSIRO and RMIT University
He has also worked as the first head of the Central Research Laboratory of the then Royal Nepal Institute of Science and Technology (RONAST) from 1987 to 1991. He also served as the President of the Third World Knowledge Conference recently organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Kathmandu.
Talking to South Asia Times (SAT), Mr. Adhikari said, “I am happy to receive the first science and technology award established by the NAST. We were united by taking an institutional initiative to ensure that the scientists in migration should also contribute to the field of science and technology in Nepal.”
“I am confident that this award will encourage many other young scientists and researchers in migration,” said Dr. Adhikari.
