Connecting Science with Society for a Healthier, Informed and Sustainable Future
Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards acknowledge sustained efforts that make scientific knowledge accessible, relevant and useful to the community, promote scientific temper, address important health concerns, communicate scientific heritage and strengthen public understanding of issues affecting people, animals and the environment.
Award Categories:
Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026 aim to recognize and celebrate individuals, institutions, and their initiatives contributing significantly in the following Four Categories:
Category A – Popularization of Science
This category recognizes individuals and institutions that have made significant efforts to make science understandable, accessible and relevant to society. Contributions may include science communication and public engagement; popularization of scientific knowledge; public science lectures, exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops; science outreach in schools, colleges and communities; and communication through print, digital media, television, radio or social media. The category also recognizes the development of innovative science communication materials, promotion of scientific temper and critical thinking, community-based science initiatives, and innovative use of technology and digital platforms for communicating science. Contributions that communicate emerging areas of science and technology in simple language, connect scientific knowledge with everyday life, and demonstrate meaningful public engagement are particularly relevant to this category.
Category B – Women’s Health Awareness
This category recognizes contributions towards improving awareness, understanding, prevention, early identification and appropriate management of health conditions affecting women. Special emphasis is placed on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, women’s hormonal and metabolic health, menstrual and reproductive health, adolescent girls’ health education, early recognition and referral, and health literacy among women and girls. The category also covers initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and misconceptions, community-based women’s health programmes, evidence-based health communication, and initiatives that empower women to make informed health decisions.
Category C – Promotion of Science Tourism
This category recognizes innovative efforts that use Science Tourism as a medium for communicating science, scientific heritage and scientific achievements. Eligible contributions may include the development or promotion of science tourism destinations; scientific museums, centers and institutions as learning destinations; scientific heritage sites and places of scientific importance; and tourism initiatives related to astronomy, space, biodiversity, geology, technology and industrial heritage. The category also includes guided scientific tours, experiential learning programmes, educational tours based on scientific themes, interpretation and conservation of scientific heritage, integration of science with culture and heritage, science tourism trails, circuits and itineraries, digital or virtual science tourism initiatives, and programmes connecting students and communities with places of scientific significance. Particular importance is given to initiatives where tourism serves not merely as a means of visitation, but as an effective tool for science communication, learning and public engagement.
Category D – Public Health Advocacy
This category recognizes contributions towards public health awareness and prevention, particularly initiatives that demonstrate the interconnection between human health, animal health and environmental health. Contributions may cover awareness and prevention of zoonotic diseases, rabies prevention and awareness, One Health education and advocacy, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance awareness, community disease-prevention programmes, veterinary public health, the human-animal-environment interface, wildlife health and zoonotic disease awareness, food safety and public health, and vector-borne or environmentally linked diseases. The category also includes school and community health education, early detection and preventive health awareness, science-based epidemic and pandemic preparedness communication, and collaborative initiatives involving medical, veterinary, environmental and community sectors. Particular emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches that promote a better understanding of public health through the One Health perspective.
Eligibility Criteria:
Individual Category: Open to educators, researchers, science communicators, social workers, or professionals with a minimum of 3 years of meaningful contribution in the relevant field.
Institutional Category: Open to schools, colleges, NGOs, start-ups, or community-based organizations with a demonstrated track record of at least 3 years in the related functional area.
Contributions must reflect commitment, creativity, and community engagement.
Both ongoing and completed projects are eligible.
Recipients of the Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2025 shall not be eligible to apply or be nominated for the Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026 in the same category in which they received the Award in 2025.
However, the recipient of Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2025 may be nominated in a different category of Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026, provided that the nomination relates to a distinct contribution, initiative or body of work relevant to that category and meets all other eligibility requirements.
A nomination based substantially on the same contribution, project or body of work for which the nominee received the Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2025 shall not be considered merely by placing it under a different category. The contribution submitted for Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026 should demonstrate a distinct area of work, initiative, achievement or impact.
Application Process:
Nominations by individuals or institutions must be submitted, attaching relevant documentary evidences, through online nomination form on or before the due date (15 November 2026).
Link for Nomination Form is https://forms.gle/ToXxtZAjxNV2CVNi9 This link shall remain active from 01 October to 15 November 2026. Any nominations received after the deadline will not be considered.
Nomination:
Both self-nominations and nominations by others may be accepted.
A person or institution may nominate another individual/institution after obtaining their consent.
Where a nomination is submitted by a third party, the Vigyan Setu Foundation may contact the nominee for verification or additional information.
The Nomination Statement should clearly explain:
- What has been done?
- Why was the initiative undertaken?
- Who benefited from it?
- What makes the contribution significant or innovative?
- What measurable or demonstrable impact has been achieved?
- How long has the work been undertaken?
- Can the model be replicated or scaled?
Nominees should avoid making unsupported claims. Wherever possible, claims of impact should be supported by documentary evidence.
Only one nomination per individual or institution per award year will be accepted.
A nominee should select the single category that most appropriately represents the principal contribution being submitted.
The Vigyan Setu Foundation may, with the consent of the nominee, place a nomination under another category if it is considered more appropriate.
Authenticity and Ethical Responsibility:
All information submitted must be accurate and verifiable.
Vigyan Setu Foundation reserves the right to seek clarification or supporting evidence.
Submission of fabricated, misleading or substantially inaccurate information may result in disqualification.
Scientific and health-related claims should be evidence-based and communicated responsibly.
Application Processing Fee:
To cover administrative processing, documentation, screening and coordination of the evaluation process, the application processing fee for the Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026 is:
Individual Nomination: ₹ 999/-
Institutional Nomination: ₹ 1,999/-
The fee is non-refundable and is payable at the time of submission of the nomination.
Payment of the fee does not guarantee selection or conferment of an Award.
Selection Criteria:
Entries will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts from respective fields. Evaluation will be based on:
- Originality and innovation
- Social impact and outreach
- Sustainability and scalability
- Relevance to the award category
Selection Process:
- Submission Review – Secretariat checks eligibility and documentation.
- Evaluation – Jury scores entries based on above criteria.
- Finalization – Highest-scoring applicants (individual & institutional, per category) are recommended for award.
Recognition:
The recipients of Vigyan Setu Foundation Awards 2026, would receive:
- Citation
- Memento
- Recognition on the official website
- Public and Social Media announcement of the Awardees
- Feature in the Vigyan Setu e-magazine
General Information:
- One nomination per person/institution per year will be accepted.
- By submitting a nomination, the nominee permits Vigyan Setu Foundation to use the submitted information, photographs and non-confidential material for legitimate award-related communication and publicity.
- The Vigyan Setu Foundation may withdraw an award if substantial misrepresentation or fraudulent documentation is subsequently established.
- The decision of Vigyan Setu Foundation and evaluation panel is final.
- The application processing Fees are non-refundable regardless of selection.
- Names of the winners will be declared on the Foundation Day of Vigyan Setu Foundation, 12 December 2026.
- Award winners will be intimated individually through email, and posted on Vigyan Setu Foundation website (https://vigyansetufoundation.in/)
- Citation and memento will be sent to the Awardees through Speed Post.
- Vigyan Setu Foundation reserves the right not to award in a category if suitable applications are not received.
- For more details, email to vigyansetu.foundation@gmail.com with subject Awards
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