Awards Description

In view of the rapid globalization process, it is felt that Indian Fisheries Professionals should be encouraged to publish their work in globally recognized and well-read journals. Although, many fisheries professionals in India are actively engaged in research, their results are published in journals having low impact factor and or not widely read journals, which are accessible to the international community. Keeping this scenario in view, PFGF has instituted the Dr. M.S Swaminathan Award for the Bet Indian Fisheries Scientist. The selection of the scientists for this award will be largely based on the impact factor (IF) of the scientific papers published during the preceding year.

Similarly, a number of Indians are now holding important positions outside the country and they act as ambassadors for India. Similarly, a number of People of Indian origin (Pol) are also making tremendous impact on the global fisheries. The Government of India initiative in bringing these NRIs and POIs has added new opportunities to derive benefits from these people to Indian Fisheries development. Many of them have been publishing in highly reputed journals and have proved to be global masters in the fisheries sector. Hence, PFGF has instituted the Dr. T.V.R. Pillay and M.V. Gupta award for the Best Overseas Indian Fisheries scientist. 

a) For Indian fisheries Scientists

1. Papers that have been published between January to December in a particular year alone would be considered for the computation of impact factor (IF).
2. All the qualifying fisheries scientists are requested to send the list of publications for the year along with reprints of their papers to the Convener of the selection committee.
3. Employing the latest available standard impact factor, identification of the best fisheries scientist of the year will be made. In case of multi-authored publications, the latest available impact factor for the journal will be divided by the number of authors and the average will be used as a basis to rank the persons based on the impact score.
4. For those Indian and foreign journals where no impact score is available, but peer review is commonly adopted by such journals, lowest available impact factor will be used for computation purpose. Papers published in peer reviewed proceedings of seminar/workshops containing original data may also be considered for computation using the lowest impact score. However, the main objective of this award being to encourage scientist to publish in more visible journals, the selection committee will assign the score appropriately only when it is necessary like the tie between two scientists.
5. In the final selection, when there is a tie between the two or more, the final selection well be based on not only the impact score, but also on the impact of research results on science and livelihoods of people dependent on fisheries.
6. A nomination committee is headed by Dr. R.A Shreepada, and the members include Dr. N. Bhaskar, Dr. B. Mohan Kumar and Dr. K. R. Raghuveer.
7. The decision of the committee is final in all matters, but he process adopted will be kept open for verification. Papers submitted by Scientists will be deposited in the PFGF office in Mumbai and will become part of the library collection being built by PFGF.

b) For Overseas Indian Fisheries Scientists

1. Papers that have been published between January to December in a particular year alone would be considered for the computation of impact factor (IF).
2. All the qualifying fisheries scientists with NRI and POI status are requested to send the list of publications for the year along with reprints of their paper to the Convener of the selection committee indicated below.
3. Employing the latest available standard impact factor, identification of the best fisheries scientist of the year will be made. In case of multi-authored publications, the latest available impact factor for the journal will be divided by the number of authors and the average will be used as a basis to rank the persons based on the impact score.
4. For those journals where no impact score is available, but peer review is commonly adopted by such journals, lowest available impact factor will be used for computation purpose. Papers published in peer reviewed proceedings of seminar/workshops containing original data may also be considered for computation using the lowest impact score. This will be done only when there is tie between the two based on the papers published in journals having IF.
5. The final selection will also be based on not only the impact score, but also on the impact of research results on science and livelihoods of people dependent on fisheries and building Indian image globally.
6. A selection committee consisting of Dr. Azad Ismail Saheb, Fish Pathologist, Marine Environment, Aquaculture and fisheries Department, Kuwait Institute of Scientific research, Kuwait (azadis@rediffmail.com), Dr. B. A. Shamsumdar. Cof, Mangalore – 575002 (bashamundar@rediffmail.com) with Mr.R. A. Sreepada, Scientist, NIO, Goa (sreepada@darya.nio.org) as the convener has been constituted. Reprints along with brief resume are to be sent to Mr. R. A. Sreepada, Aquaculture Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula, Goa 403004, not later than 31^st August of the given year or by e-mail to sreepada@daryo.nio.org
7. The decision of the committee is final in all matters, but the process adopted will be kept open for verification. Papers submitted by Scientists will be deposited at PFGF office in Mumbai and will become part of the library collection being built by PFGF.

2.3.3. Examination Committee

A nomination committee is headed by Dr. R. A. Shreepada, and the members include Dr. N. Bhaskar, Dr. B. Mohan Kumar and Dr. K. R. Raghuveer.

Likely impact

It is envisaged that the award will motivate the fisheries scientists to publish their research results in high impact journals. PFGF will take proactive role in providing wide publicity for the award winner. The awards would help to recognize the NRIs and POIs working in the fisheries field and to link them with the Indian fisheries researchers. 

a) For Indian Fisheries Scientists

1. All those involved in fisheries research would be eligible to apply irrespective of their qualification. There is no age limit.
2. A scientist can get the award repeatedly, but to a maximum of four times, but with a gap of two years between the awards. A scientist who will win the award four times will be presented with the “Best Indian Fisheries Scientist” award.

b) For Overseas Indian Fisheries Scientist

1. All those involved in fisheries research/education/development with NRI or POI status would be eligible to apply. There is no age limit.
2. A scientist can get the award repeatedly, but to a maximum of four times, but with a gap of two years between the awards. A scientist who wins the award four times will be presented with the “Best Overseas Indian Fisheries Scientist” Award.