More than 50 years after her father was named Fellow of the Royal Society, Soumya Swaminathan is one of two from India, among 90 international researchers elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences.
Among other Indian researchers who have, in the past, been recognised by the Royal Society are Gagandeep Kang and RA Mashelkar, to name a few.
The fellows join the ranks of Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin, a note from the Royal Society said.
About 26 percent of this year’s intake of Fellows and Honorary Fellows are women, it added.
Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said, “Their contributions reflect the highest standards of scientific endeavour.
More than 50 years after her father was named Fellow of the Royal Society, Soumya Swaminathan is one of two from India, among 90 international researchers elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences. IIT Kanpur Director Dr Manindra Agrawal was the other elected person from India.
The former chief scientist to the World Health Organization and Chairperson MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Soumya joins her father late MS Swaminathan – making them possibly the only father-daughter duo to get this recognition. Agrawal is a renowned computer scientist, globally known for his contributions in Complexity Theory and Cryptography. Among other Indian researchers who have, in the past, been recognised by the Royal Society are Gagandeep Kang and RA Mashelkar, to name a few.
Inspiration for Youth
Swaminathan hoped this recognition would inspire young people to pursue a research-based career, “where you can combine your scientific curiosity with also the benefit of having an impact on people’s lives.” Young researchers can have a successful and fulfilling career in science, she said, concerned that not many were taking up a career in research.
As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, coming up next is a signing ceremony (July 10th) where the Fellows will have to sign a register – “apparently it is the same register that Charles Darwin and Newton have signed,” she said. Further, they are allowed to look at one other page in the register, and Swaminathan said that for her would be where her father had signed in 1973. The fellows join the ranks of Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin, a note from the Royal Society said. About 26 percent of this year’s intake of Fellows and Honorary Fellows are women, it added.
Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said, “Their contributions reflect the highest standards of scientific endeavour. Whether advancing our understanding of vaccines or exploring the transformative potential of mathematics and computation, their work exemplifies the enduring value of curiosity, creativity and rigorous inquiry”.
