Ajit Karn
New York: Hari Balakrishnan, an MIT professor of Indian Origin, has been awarded the prestigious Marconi Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to conventional and wireless networking, mobile sensing, and distributed systems.
The Marconi Society announced on February 22 that Balakrishnan, a Fujitsu Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was the recipient of the award.
The Marconi Society awards the Marconi Prize annually to innovators who have substantially contributed to expanding digital inclusion through the use of advanced information and communications technology.
Balakrishnan’s work has made millions of people safer and made the Internet and wireless communications more efficient and robust, according to a press release.
“I am honoured to receive the Marconi Prize, whose previous recipients are a “Who’s Who” of innovators in communications technology. As a researcher inspired by how people use network applications and driven to create networked systems for a safer and more resilient world, I am honoured to be a part of the Marconi Society and its mission to advance digital equity “Balakrishnan said in a statement.
According to the press release, Balakrishnan’s discoveries frequently pave the way for significant scientific and technological advances in networking systems.
Vint Cerf, chair of the Marconi Society, stated, “Hari’s contributions have influenced the trajectory of research and discovery in multiple disciplines, saved lives, and enabled consumers to have a better experience with network-based services.”
“His focus on scientific excellence that generates widespread positive impact, combined with his humanitarian contributions, makes him an ideal candidate for the Marconi Prize,” Cerf continued.
Andrea Goldsmith, chair of the Marconi Prize Selection Committee, remarked that Hari’s technological contributions were extraordinary for their scope, profundity, and originality.
“His transformative impact on technology, successful translation of his research concepts into widespread practise, and humanitarian efforts are exemplary of the contributions the Marconi Prize aims to recognise,” Goldsmith said.
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Balakrishnan obtained a B.Tech from IIT Madras and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
On October 27, 2023, he will be honoured at the Marconi Society’s annual awards gala in Washington, D.C.
According to its official website, the Marconi Society is a non-profit organisation committed to advancing digitally equitable communities by empowering change agents across sectors.
