Kerala’s own ocean science champion, Dr. T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, Director of INCOIS Hyderabad, has been honored with the Prestigious Swadeshi Science Award by Vigyan Bharati Kerala. His groundbreaking contributions include: Pioneering coastal real-time observation systems & the WAMAN buoy network, Powering marine warnings that save lives across Indian Ocean nations, transforming INCOIS into a world-class institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Advancing India’s Blue Economy: shipping, fisheries, offshore energy & tourism. The award was presented by Hon’ble Kerala Governor Shri. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the 32nd Swadeshi Science Conference, Central University of Kerala. The programme was presided over by CUK Vice Chancellor Prof. Siddu P. Algur, with a keynote by Vivekananda Pai, Secretary General of Vijnana Bharati. Distinguished dignitaries including Dr. R. Jayaprakash, Sivakumar Venugopal, and Dr. Jasmine M. Shah graced the occasion.