The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) is a non-profit trust which was set up in February 2009. As a part of its initiatives, the Foundation instituted the Infosys Prize to honour outstanding achievements in science and research in India, and to inspire young Indians to choose a vocation in research.
The annual award honours outstanding achievements across six categories: Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Humanities and Life Sciences. The award for each category carries a prize of INR 65 lakh. The jury comprises eminent leaders in each of these fields.
During the launch of the prize, as a strategic public relations partner, The PRactice team focused on building the narrative about the importance and need for science and research in India first, and then went on to motivate the community further, at the launch event.
It was a three pronged campaign. We started by briefing the top tier journalists covering science and technology beats about ISF and how we aimed to usher in change in the scientific world. Next, we had direct interactions with the media across the country. And finally, we identified relevant Op-Ed opportunities for long-term sustainability.
The team also hosted a debate on the status of science and research in India, and explained how the Infosys Prize would influence the ecosystem. A press conference announced the winners. The PRactice also tapped leading publications to cover the conferences and spread excitement about the event across the country. The extensive outreach via print media featured the winners in key cities and their hometowns.
As a key takeaway from these activities, there was new interest in the culture of science and research. The event was one of the most talked about topics in the industry. Our contribution to the campaign was greatly appreciated by our client and by the end recipients – the scientific community.
