Astrophysicist Professor Annapurni Subramaniam has become the first Indian woman to receive the prestigious COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026, marking a significant milestone for India's scientific community and global space research. She received the honour during the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly held in Florence, Italy.
Key Highlights:
- Annapurni Subramaniam becomes the first Indian woman to receive the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal.
- She is only the fourth Indian and the third woman globally to win the prestigious honour.
- The award recognises her pioneering contributions to stellar astronomy, AstroSat and international space research.
The award recognises scientists from developing countries for their exceptional contributions to space research. Jointly presented by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the medal was established in 1990 in memory of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, widely regarded as the father of India's space programme.
With this recognition, Annapurni becomes only the fourth Indian to receive the medal after U.R. Rao (1996), Gurbax Singh Lakhina (2014) and Anil Bhardwaj (2024). She is also only the third woman worldwide to earn the distinction since the award's inception.
Annapurni currently serves as Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, while also holding additional charge as Director of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS). Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has made significant contributions to stellar astrophysics, particularly through her research on stellar populations, star clusters, blue straggler stars, nearby galaxies and the Magellanic Clouds.
One of her most notable achievements includes serving as the calibration scientist for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat, India's first dedicated space observatory launched in 2015. Her work has played a crucial role in strengthening India's capabilities in ultraviolet astronomy and space-based observation.
Beyond AstroSat, Annapurni has actively contributed to several major scientific initiatives, including the international Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project, where India is a participating partner. She has also supported the development of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, promoting sustainable astronomical observations while preserving one of India's most important dark-sky sites.
The award citation acknowledged her outstanding contributions to space research in developing countries, highlighting her work on stellar evolution, ultraviolet astronomy, future telescope missions and advanced astronomical instrumentation.
Born in Palakkad, Kerala, Annapurni developed an early fascination with the night sky before pursuing physics and astronomy through leading Indian research institutions, including the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO and the Raman Research Institute. In 2019, she became the first woman to lead the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Her academic achievements extend beyond research. She has authored more than 175 scientific papers, supervised 15 doctoral scholars and mentored numerous young researchers, helping shape the next generation of Indian astronomers. She is also a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and a member of the International Astronomical Union. In 2024, she received the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar – Vigyan Shri in the Space Science and Technology category.
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