Indian scientist Shrinivas Kulkarni has won the Dan David Prize for his work in the field of astronomy, PTI reported on Thursday. The professor of astrophysics and planetary science at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena built the Palomar Transient Factory, with which he conducted a large-area survey of the night sky to find variable and transient phenomena.

“The survey has transformed our knowledge of the transient sky, turning up thousands of stellar explosions, supernovae and others,” the Dan David Foundation said on Facebook. “Many of these events have been observed and understood better than ever before, and some have turned out to define new, previously unseen, types of explosive phenomena.”

He will get $ 1 million as prize money by the Dan David Foundation headquartered at Tel Aviv University. The Foundation will organise a ceremony in Tel Aviv on May 21 to officially give him the award.

Every year the prize is given in three categories – “Past”, “Present” and “Future” – to people for their contribution to humanity in the sciences, humanities, or through their work in civil society. Kulkarni got the award in “Future” category which is dedicated to astronomy this year. The other awardees in the category are Andrej Udalski of the University of Warsaw and Neil Gehrels of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The annual prize was started by businessman and philanthropist Dan David 16 years ago.