Professor Savita Ladage from Mumbai’s Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s (RSC) Nyholm Prize for Education in recognition of her contribution to chemistry education.
The RSC Prizes portfolio is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, recognising achievements by individuals, teams and organisations in advancing the chemical sciences.
Professor Ladage won the excellence in education prize for enthusiastically advocating the importance of chemical education by mentoring chemistry educators and initiating teacher and student programmes that promote the field in India.
After receiving the prize, professor Ladage said, “I feel deeply honoured to receive this prize and recognition in the community of individuals who are doing work in the area of chemistry education. I am thankful to the RSC for the same. The award and recognition have motivated me further to continue my work with greater zeal and enthusiasm. I am passionate about chemistry education in general.” With the award she also received £5,000 (approximately Rs 5.2 lakh), a medal and a certificate.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society as a whole. Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the RSC, said, “Professor Ladage’s work demonstrates an outstanding commitment to chemistry education.”
Dean at the HBCSE, Professor Ladage interacts with chemistry students and teachers, especially at the undergraduate level. As per information shared by the HBCSE, one of her main interests is chemistry lab education and helping students make observations more carefully and critically. She designs experiments and highlights the associated procedures, difficulties and errors involved, and the data. Savita wants to change the perception of students and teachers of chemistry lab education.
