Lankan-born Dr Ray Jay awarded 2020 Carl Sagan Medal

Features

Sri Lankan-born Dr. Ray Jayawardhana (aka RayJay), currently Harold Tanner Dean of the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University, has been awarded the 2020 Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding contributions to the dissemination of planetary science research to the general public.

The medal is awarded by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the prestigious American Astronomical Society.

Dr. Jayawardhana has published four popular books to widespread acclaim, one of which was the basis for an hour-long CBC TV documentary. His most recent book, Child of the Universe, is aimed at children and builds on the legacy of Carl Sagan by revealing humanity’s deep and enduring links with the cosmos.

Over three decades, Dr Jayawardhana has written frequently for many prestigious and widely read publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Science. While reaching out to the general public, Dr Jayawardhana has remained a highly published and cited scientist and has been honored repeatedly for his research accomplishments.

Upon winning the medal, Dr. Jayawardhana commented: “I'm humbled by the award and grateful to those who nominated me for it. It feels special to receive a medal named after Carl Sagan, who inspired me when I was a teenager, and to do so while I’m at Cornell, where he worked for decades.”

Comments

Still No Comments Posted.

Leave Comments

Most Reviews

May 31, 2025

- 426 - 0

Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred

May 26, 2025

- 336 - 0

Thousands pay last respects to Malini Fonseka, funeral today

June 2, 2025

- 271 - 0

National Tax week launched

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.

May 29, 2025

- 241 - 0

Mahindananda and Nalin Fernando Jailed

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando have sentenced to 20 and 25 years respectively after they were found guilty in a case of fraud.