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Tata Transformation Prize

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Overview

Supporting breakthrough, innovative technologies that address India’s greatest challenges.

By recognizing and supporting the implementation at scale of high-impact research, the Prize drives innovation in scientific disciplines of importance to India’s societal needs and economic competitiveness.

The Tata Transformation Prize leverages the exceptional potential of scientists in India to address critical national challenges in three categories—Food Security, Sustainability, and Healthcare—and generate improved quality-of-life outcomes across India and beyond.

The Tata Transformation Prize recognizes one Winner in each of the three categories, with INR 2 crores (approximately US$230,000).

The blue and white logo for the Tata Transformation Prize.

Important Dates

  • Applications open: June 4, 2025
  • Applications close: July 4, 2025 (11:59 PM IST)
  • Letters of Reference due: July 7, 2025 (11:59 PM IST)
  • Ceremony: Late Fall 2025

View highlights from the 2024 Tata Transformation Prize Ceremony

“The Tata group has been in the forefront of creating impact in society for more than 150 years. In fact, our founder Jamsetji Tata said that the very purpose of business is the society. The Tata Transformation Prize is one small way in which we will promote science and scientists to solve India’s national problems.”

N. Chandrasekaran
Chairman
Tata Sons

Pathbreaking research takes place in India, resulting in important advances in science around the world. This prize is focused not only on science, but on innovative discoveries that put science to work for the betterment of society.”

Nicholas B. Dirks
President & CEO
The New York Academy of Sciences

Members of the Scientific Advisory Council serve as ambassadors of the Tata Transformation Prize, invited by Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences to reach a broad and diverse pool of applicants and advise on Prize policies.

Winners are selected by a confidential jury, independently chosen by The New York Academy of Sciences, comprising world-leading topical experts from academia, industry, government, and beyond.

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M. Lakshmi Kantam, PhD
Professor, Institute of Chemical Technology
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Prabhu L. Pingali, PhD
Professor, Cornell University
Chair, ICRISAT Governing Board
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K. Srinath Reddy, MD, DM(Card)
Former Head of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Former President, Public Health Foundation of India
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Karen C. Seto, PhD
Professor, Yale University
A black and white headshot of Soumya Swaminathan
Soumya Swaminathan, MD
Chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
Former Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
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K. VijayRaghavan, PhD
Emeritus Professor, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Former Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India
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Meg Wirth
Founder & President, Maternova
Guidelines & Applications
Prize Details
Eligible Institutions
FAQ

Contact Us

Mamta Tahiliani, PhD
Program Manager, Awards
tatatransformation@nyas.org
+1 (212) 298-3742 (M–F, 9 AM – 5 PM ET)

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Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

Overview

Driving the Next Generation of Scientific Innovation

Considered the largest unrestricted prize ever created for early-career scientists, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists were established in 2007 by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and are independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences. The Blavatnik Awards seek to identify and honor exceptional young scientists and engineers 42 years of age and younger. Honorees are selected based on the quality, novelty, and impact of their research and their potential for further significant contributions to science.

Focus on Promising Young Scientists

Unlike lifetime achievement awards that honor scientists at a later stage in their career, the Blavatnik Awards aim to identify and encourage promising young scientists early on, when they are most in need of funding and recognition.

Founded and Supported by

Our goal is to recognize exceptional young scientists, and to showcase their work as examples of what the next generation of young scientists should strive to achieve. The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides critical support to fuel the kind of innovative science and technology research that addresses society’s most pressing global problems.” Len Blavatnik

Three Disciplinary Categories

Blavatnik Awards honorees are recognized in three disciplinary categories:

Chemical Sciences
Physical Sciences & Engineering
Life Sciences

Four Awards

The Academy administers the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists as four separate Awards programs:

$20M in Unrestricted Funding Awarded

Boosting Careers & Economic Growth

From the 2023 ceremony for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. From left: Zvika Brakerski, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science; Rina Rosenzweig, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science; Shai Carmi, PhD, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences.
Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, looks on during an Awards Ceremony.
Recipients of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists on stage during the 2023 ceremony in the United States.
Awards Program
History
Blavatnik Family Foundation

Nutrition Science

Nutrition science

The Academy is dedicated to advancing nutrition science research and knowledge, and applying our work in the field to mobilize communities. Taking a collective action approach, our initiatives address micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, adolescent nutrition in low income areas, the use of electronic health records for public health, and other pressing issues in the field of nutrition.

We partner with organizations to seek answers on a variety of topics across the nutrition spectrum. By facilitating brainstorming among diverse groups, assessing or synthesizing evidence, building consensus, designing roadmaps and preparing scientific manuscripts for publication, we build solutions that use nutrition science for public health.

Related Annals Virtual Issues

Fellowships

The Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN) aim to promote groundbreaking neuroscience research in New York City. The scholarships support the most innovative young researchers during their postdoctoral research — a critical stage of their careers. 

The Artificial Intelligence and Society Fellowship Program is designed to incorporate ethical and humanistic principles into the development and application of AI. Launched by The New York Academy of Sciences in partnership with Arizona State University, its goal is to develop a new generation of multidisciplinary scholars prepared to counsel the future use of AI in society for the benefit of humankind.

Awards

The largest unrestricted prize ever created for early-career scientists, these awards seek to honor exceptional scientists and engineers 42 years of age and younger. 

This prize supports breakthrough, innovative technologies in scientific disciplines of importance to India’s societal needs and economic competitiveness.

Shaping Science Podcast

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Introducing the Shaping Science Podcast

Welcome to “Shaping Science,” the podcast where we talk with experts from science, academia, industry, and beyond to explore the latest in research, education and innovation for the public good. You’ll hear directly from many of today’s pioneering minds and will gain valuable insights and perspectives into what’s fueling the most urgent scientific debates of our time. In this era of short attention spans, our freewheeling, no holds barred interview format enables us to go deep – without sacrificing nuance or complexity. Episodes are released on a bi-monthly basis.

Shaping Science is made possible with the generous support of Tata Sons.

Featured Episodes

#07 Agustín Fuentes on Biological Anthropology, Sex as a Spectrum, and What It Means to be Human

December 1, 2025

Agustín Fuentes, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss his boundary-crossing work in anthropology; humanist questions around the power of belief; and the biological character of gender and sex. Dr. Fuentes is a biological anthropologist whose research challenges entrenched ideas about what it means to be human. A professor at Princeton University, he is known for his work on human evolution, cooperation, creativity, and is the author of influential books including 'Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being' and 'Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You.' His most recent book, 'Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary,' was published in 2025.

Read more >


#06 Angus Fletcher on the Hoax of AGI, Teaching Creativity, and the Future of the Humanities 

November 11, 2025

Angus Fletcher, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss how the humanities inform the sciences, the role of neurons as action initiators, and why he thinks artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a hoax. With degrees from the University of Michigan and Yale University, he is currently a professor of story science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative. Trained in both neuroscience and literature, Prof. Fletcher bridges the sciences and humanities to explore how stories shape the human mind, inspire innovation, and foster resilience. His latest book – ‘Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know’ – argues that it’s our unique form of human intuition, imagination, and emotional intelligence that give humans an edge even in the age of AI.   

Read more >


#05 D. Graham Burnett on the Philosophy of Science, the Crisis of Human Fracking, and the Need for Attention Sanctuaries 

November 3, 2025

D. Graham Burnett, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the role of democracy in science and the impact technology has on attention spans. Prof. Burnett is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History at Princeton University. He co-authored the paper “Attention sanctuaries: Social practice guidelines and emergent strategies in attention activism” published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

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#04 Stuart Firestein on the Science of Smells, Learning from Failure, and the Utility of Uncertainty

October 20, 2025

Stuart Firestein, PhD, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the science of smells, learning from failure, and the utility of uncertainty. Formerly the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, Prof. Firestein is the author of “Ignorance: How it Drives Science” and “Failure: Why Science is So Successful,” which have been translated into 12 languages. "Ignorance: How it Drives Science" was released by Oxford University Press in 2012. His second book, "Failure: Why Science is So Successful," appeared in October 2015. They have been translated into 12 languages.

Read more >


#03 Peter Salovey on Emotional Intelligence, Public Trust in Science, and the Future of Higher Education

October 6, 2025

Peter Salovey joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence and lessons he’s learned after more than two decades in higher education leadership. Prof. Salovey served as the twenty-third president of Yale University from 2013 to 2024 and currently is Sterling Professor of Psychology at Yale with secondary appointments in the Schools of Management and Public Health. A clinical psychologist by training, Prof. Salovey is renowned for his work in the realm of emotional intelligence, which focuses on the important role emotions play in thinking and behavior.

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#02 Ariel Ekblaw on the Intersection of Physics, AI, Philosophy, and Ethics in Space Exploration

September 22, 2025

Ariel Ekblaw, PhD, founder and CEO of Aurelia Institute, joins Nick Dirks in the latest episode of Shaping Science to discuss the complexity and promise of modern space exploration. Dr. Ekblaw talks about the work her nonprofit is doing in developing “space LEGOs” to create customizable space structures for humans, the utility of zero gravity for medical applications, and her thoughts on democratizing space travel to make it as accessible as possible.  

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#01 Mary Woolley on Threats to Science, the Role of Advocacy, and Funding Research

September 9, 2025

Mary Woolley, President of Research!America, joins Nick Dirks in the premiere episode of Shaping Science, The New York Academy of Sciences' new podcast. Mary discusses her more than three-decade career at the helm of Research!America, the importance of federal support for research, and hope for the future of science, despite recent challenges.

Read more >


From the Archives

Ethics in Pediatric Research


December 9, 2022

Recent progress in the understanding of human disease has led to an explosion in the number of new medicines and therapeutics available for adults — however, significantly fewer drugs are developed and evaluated specifically for children due to complex ethical and logistical issues. Listen to this podcast addressing topics on how to provide children with […]

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The Intersection of Conflicts of Interest and Healthcare


October 1, 2021

Individuals. Institutions. For-profit companies. Non-profit organizations. All participants in healthcare are vulnerable to financial or ideological conflicts of interest. How do we balance this pervasive susceptibility to conflicts with the best health interest of the population? In this podcast you will hear from healthcare, government, bioethics, research, industry, media and other experts on how conflicts […]

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Big Data: Balancing Privacy and Innovation


February 25, 2019

Presented by: Science & the City Often cited as the “4th Industrial Revolution” big data has the potential to transform health and healthcare by drawing medical conclusions from new and exciting sources such as electronic health records, genomic databases, and even credit card activity. In this podcast you will hear from tech, healthcare, and regulatory […]

Read more >




Rethinking Climate Change


January 5, 2018

Climate change may be controversial in the political realm, but for three Blavatnik Awards Scholars, all leading experts in environmental studies, there is no debate. The Earth’s ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and animals have all been altered by high levels of CO2 and increasing global temperatures. But are these changes permanent? This podcast examines the latest […]

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Reevaluating Clinical Trial Design


October 20, 2017

Clinical trials to evaluate new drugs are typically built around one design, the randomized controlled trial, but this method has come under scrutiny in recent years for being expensive, lengthy, and cumbersome. In this podcast you’ll hear from experts asking if alternative designs would be better for determining the safety and efficacy of new therapies.  […]

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Bioethics Meets R&D: The Ethics of Pre-approval Access


June 2, 2016

Patients with life-threatening illnesses face challenges in accessing potential therapies at the cutting-edge of research and development, which have not yet been proven in a clinical trial. Some pharmaceutical companies produce and provide medicines on a case-by-case basis through expanded access or “compassionate use” programs. The tension among principles of fairness, equity, and compassion are […]

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Is There a Limit to Human Knowledge?


May 12, 2016

Modern physics and its leading theories have been remarkably successful in describing the history of our universe, and large-scale experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, are continuously producing new data that extend our knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, our understanding of some physical concepts that seek to explain our universe—dark matter and dark energy, […]

Read more >




Improving Clinical Trials through Mobile Technology


January 20, 2016

Mobile technology is emerging as a powerful tool for transforming the way clinical research is conducted now and in the future. Acquisition of real-time biometric data though the use of wireless medical sensors will allow for around-the-clock patient monitoring, reduce costly clinic visits, and streamline inefficient administrative processes. With the promise of this technology also […]

Read more >




Proof of Concept Centers: Energy Technology


October 26, 2015

It’s easier to find people to invest in a great new tech product if you can show that it will be profitable relatively quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not so easy to demonstrate. Learn how we’re working to change that. The New York Academy of Sciences and NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) […]

Read more >




Podcasts Featuring Academy Leaders

AI and the Future of the University | The Next Big Idea Podcast

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Pasts and Futures of the Global Humanities | Global Humanities Network

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Universities Under Attack | New University in Exile Consorti

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Regulating AI Podcast | The Future of AI in Higher Education and Scientific Research

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Capitalisn’t | Trump’s War on Universities

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People & Science Live presented by Karger Publishers Research Integrity and Scientific Publishing

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El Podcast | Former Berkeley Chancellor Nick Dirks on the Rising Costs and Uses & Abuses of the University

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TechNation Radio Podcast | The International Science Reserve and AI

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The Politics Guys | The Uses and Abuses of the Modern University

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unSILOed Podcast | The Delicate Balance of Teaching and Research in Modern Academia

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The Commonweal Podcast | What Are Universities For?

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dotEDU | Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines

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Chasing Leviathan | Free Speech, Controversy, and the University

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Women Who Code | A Catalyst for Innovation: Philanthropy in Science and Tech

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New Books Network | City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University

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Converging Dialogues | Science Communication and Free Speech in Academia

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Sylvia & Me | Female Scientists Breaking Barriers

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The Realignment | The Uses and Abuses of the University – Where Does Higher Ed Go from Here?

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Keen On | Why American universities need to reinvent themselves in our winner-take-all age of social media and AI

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The PhD Life Raft Podcast | The Changing Culture of the University

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When Science Speaks | Applying Scientific Insights to Global Challenges

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The Thought Stretchers Education Podcast | Science, Truth, And Trust

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Times Higher Education | Campus Interview: Dr. Nicholas Dirks

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Women in STEM | Tips and Techniques for Early-career Scientists and How to Navigate the Process from Research to Publication

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This Anthro Life | Bridging the Gap: Bringing Science to the Public Imagination

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Let’s Talk PR & More! | The Importance of Science Communications and Ways to Make Science Topics More Accessible and Attractive to the Public

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EdUp Experience | Science for the Public Good

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Clearer Thinking | What good is college now that we can learn everything for free on the internet?

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Research & Analysis

Research & Analysis 

The Academy is often called upon to be a bridge, organizing and facilitating diverse groups — including funding agencies, legislatures, governments, companies, and universities — to develop solutions to global challenges. Over the past several years, the Academy has published research in the areas of environmental science, nutrition science, STEM education, and engineering. The reports featured here provide an overview of the breadth of our research and reporting expertise.

Engineering & Sustainability

Infrastructure Architecture Framework, 2021

Blueprint for Change: Five Priorities, 2018

Second Annual Summit on Science Enablement for the Sustainable Development Goals: Meeting Report, 2017

First Annual Summit on Science and Technology Enablement for the Sustainable Development Goals: Meeting Report, 2017

Nutrition Science

Nutrition Modeling Consortium Meeting Report, 2021

Nutrition Modeling Consortium Meeting Report, 2020

Nutrition Modeling Consortium Meeting Report, 2019

The Nutrition Modeling Consortium: Improving Data Use for Nutrition Policy, 2019

Calcium Task Force: Meeting Report, 2021

Calcium Task Force: Meeting Report, 2021

Summary of the Second Meeting of the Global Thiamine Alliance, 2021

The Control and Prevention of Thiamine Deficiency Disorders: Report of a Regional Workshop, 2019

National control and prevention programs for thiamine deficiency disorders: Technical Reference Materials, 2019

STEM Education

STEM City Annual Report, 2024–2025

Scientist-in-Residence Program External Evaluation, 2025

STEM Education 10-Year Impact Report, 2024

Innovation Challenge Evaluation Report, 2024

Scientist-in-Residence Program Report, 2024

STEM City Annual Report, 2023–2024

STEM Innovation Challenges in Kigali, Rwanda – The Cornerstone Initiative, 2023

Science Alliance Leadership Training (SALT) Longitudinal Study, 2023

STEM Education Framework: Research Foundations, 2016

STEM Education Framework, 2016

STEM Education Standards, 2016

Research Findings of The New York Academy of Sciences’ After-School STEM Mentoring Program, 2016

The Global STEM Paradox, 2014

Publications

A cover shot of the public Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences is an international science journal presenting original research articles and/or commissioned reviews, commentaries, and perspectives. Ann NY Acad Sci is rigorously peer-reviewed and ranked among the top multidisciplinary journals worldwide.

A cover shot of the publication Transactions of The New York Academy of Sciences.

A sister journal to Ann NY Acad Sci, this was a historical publication published as from 1881–1897 and 1938–1983. Transactions provides a rich history of science in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. 

A cover shot of the publication The Sciences.

Featuring articles, news and commentary on scientific developments of social and cultural interest, The Sciences was published from 1961 to 2001 and was the winner of seven National Magazine Awards. All 41 volumes of The Sciences are available online. Ann NY Acad Sci now publishes a series called “The Sciences,” with content evoking the original publication.

The archive of The New York Academy of Sciences (spanning 210 years, from 1803 to 2013) encapsulates the history and development of natural science, technology, modern biomedical sciences and education. Our archives include documentation of anti-intellectual sentiments toward science and scientists, offering insights into the history of the pursuit of fact-based reasoning, equality and freedom from oppression.

Convergence: A Journal for Young Researchers by Indigo Research and The New York Academy of Sciences is dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed academic work from young people (pre-university), exploring a wide range of subjects with a focus on work that explores the convergence of disciplines related to current and future existential risks including climate change, human rights and structural inequities.

Annals

NOT A REAL PAGE – ONLY A FORWARD TO “NEW IN ANNALS” – PM

School & Community Programs

You can give the feeling of scientific curiosity and exploration to middle school students around New York City by conducting engaging extracurricular activities with them throughout the school year.

Family Science Nights are an opportunity for elementary and middle school students and their families to participate in interactive, hands-on activities led by Academy Members, grad students, postdocs, and other STEM professionals.

A mentor poses with her two students.

The Scientist-in-Residence program matches scientists with New York City public school teachers to bring scientific inquiry to life in the classroom. By combining content and pedagogical expertise, each scientist-teacher pair develops and implements a yearlong project that engages students in authentic research and sparks their interest in STEM learning.