“Vidya Jothi’, Dr Arthur C Clarke has been honoured by the International Academy of Astronautics with its highest award, the Von Karman Award. The award was presented to Dr Clarke on 8 October 1996 at the IAF Congress held in Beijing.
The world renowned author, scholar and visionary who has just completed his latest novel, “3001: The Final Odyssey”, travelled on 5 October 96 on Singapore Airlines to attend the Congress.
While in Beijing, Dr Clarke will also receive an honorary degree from the Baptist University of Hong Kong in recognition of his pioneering work in space exploration.
Dr Clarke has twice been Chairman of the British Interplanetary Society. While serving as an RAF radar officer in 1945, he published the theory of communication satellites, most of which operate in what is now called the Clarke Orbit. The impact of this invention upon global politics resulted in his nomination for the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.
He has written over 70 books and shared an OSCAR nomination with Stanley Kook for the movie based on his novel ‘2001: A Space Odyssey”. His ‘Mysterious World’, ‘Strange Powers’ and ‘Mysterious Universe’ TV series have been shown worldwide.
His many honours include the Marconi and Lindberg awards, as well as 3 HVGOS and 3 NEBULAS for his science fiction. In a global satellite ceremony in 1995, he received NASA’s highest civilian honour, its Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Dr Clarke received the ‘Vidya Jothi’ (“Light of Science) Award from the President of Sri Lanka in 1986, and the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) from H M Queen Elizabeth in 1989.
