Eight Odisha scientists from Bhubaneswar, Berhampur institutes earn breakthrough prize at CERN

Eight scientists from Odisha-based institutions have been awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics-2025, among 13,508 global researchers recognised by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) for groundbreaking contributions to particle physics.

Odisha Researchers Shine in Global Physics Breakthrough

The USD 3 million prize, higher than the Nobel Prize’s monetary award, honours work conducted during CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Run-2, which concluded in July 2024.

Scientists from Bhubaneswar’s National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), IIT, Institute of Physics, and Berhampur’s IISER contributed to experiments like ALICE and CMS, advancing understanding of subatomic particles, Higgs boson properties, and cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry.

Key Contributors from Odisha

The awardees include:

NISER, Bhubaneswar: Bedangadas Mohanty, Ranbir Singh, Sanjay Swain, Prolay Mal

IIT Bhubaneswar: Seema Bahinipati

Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar: Aruna Kumar Nayak, Pradip Kumar Sahu

IISER Berhampur: Natasha Sharma

Their research analysed data from high-energy particle collisions, shedding light on extreme cosmic conditions and rare particle interactions.

“The breakthrough prize trophy, had fun holding it today. Trophy molded into the shape of a toroid, natural forms found from black holes and galaxies to seashells and coils of DNA. All due to immense contributions of researchers of four experiments in LHC,” wrote Prof. Bedangadas Mohanty in a post on X.

Impact on Science and Technology

The Breakthrough Prize underscores advancements in quantum physics, which could revolutionise energy, computing, and material sciences. By decoding universal forces, these discoveries pave the way for innovations like precision medical imaging and sustainable energy solutions.

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Notably, the achievement highlights Odisha’s growing role in high-energy physics, inspiring STEM students nationwide to pursue research careers. With CERN collaborations set to expand, India’s scientific footprint on the global stage is also poised to grow.