UNESCO is to present its Kalinga Award for the Popularisation of Science 2009 to Vietnamese American professor of astronomy Trinh Xuan Thuan and Indian professor Yash Pal.

The award will be presented on November 5 2009 at the World Scientific Forum in Budapest, Hungary.

Professor Trinh Xuan Thuan was born in 1948 in Hanoi and completed his B.S. at the California Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. at Princeton University. He has taught astronomy at the University of Virginia since 1976, and is a Research Associate at the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris. He was a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion.

He specialises in extragalactic astronomy and galaxy formation with his research focusing on the evolution of galaxies and the chemical composition of the universe.

Prof. Thuan is considered one of the leading astrophysicists in the world and has written many popular books including “The Birth of the Universe”, “The Secret Melody”, “Chaos and Harmony”. A number of his books have been translated into Vietnamese.

In 2007, he received the Grand Prix Moron Award from the French Academy for his book “Roads of Light”. His latest book is “Dictionary for Fans of Sky and Stars” in 2009.

The Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people. It was created in 1952, following a donation from Biju Patnaik, the founding president of the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.

The recipient of this annual award must have demonstrated — during a brilliant career as writer, editor, lecturer, film producer, radio/television programme director or presenter — talent in interpreting science and technology for the public.

The recipient should promote the international importance of science and technology and its contribution to improving public welfare, enriching the cultural heritage of nations, and solving problems facing humanity.