- Indian scientists Soumya Swaminathan and Manindra Agrawal have been elected as Fellows of the prestigious Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences.
- They are among more than 90 international researchers and scientists selected this year from across the world for their outstanding contributions to science and research.
Royal Society Highlights Diverse Scientific Achievements
According to the Royal Society, this year’s cohort includes pioneers and leaders from several scientific disciplines such as:
- Astronomy
- Cancer research
- Mathematics
- Biotechnology
- Quantum technology
- Paleontology
The Society stated that the fellows represent the highest standards of scientific innovation, creativity, and inquiry.
Soumya Swaminathan’s Contribution
- Soumya Swaminathan is the former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization and currently serves as Chairperson of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- With this recognition, she joins her father, the late M. S. Swaminathan, who was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society earlier.
- She also joins the list of distinguished Indian scientists such as Gagandeep Kang who have previously received this honour.
Manindra Agrawal Recognised for Mathematics and Computation
- Manindra Agrawal, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, has been recognised for his significant contributions in the fields of mathematics and computer science.
- He is widely known for his work in computational complexity and number theory.
Joining the Ranks of Great Scientists
The newly elected fellows now join the ranks of some of the greatest scientists in history associated with the Royal Society, including:
- Isaac Newton
- Charles Darwin
- Albert Einstein
- Stephen Hawking
- Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Major Achievement for Indian Science
The election of Soumya Swaminathan and Manindra Agrawal to the Royal Society is being seen as a significant achievement for Indian science and research, highlighting India’s growing global contribution in healthcare, mathematics, and advanced scientific research.