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Modi’s principal scientific adviser elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Ajay Kumar Sood joins a select group of 250 elected members for 2025.
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Staff Reporter
- Mon, 05, May 2025
- 21:54 EDT
- 120
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Ajay Kumar Sood. / LinkedIn/Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, has been elected as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS)—one of the oldest and most esteemed scholarly societies in the world. The recognition comes in honor of his outstanding contributions to public affairs and public policy.
Founded in 1781, the AAAS has long celebrated pioneering thinkers and changemakers across disciplines. Its historic roster of members includes figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Charles Darwin, Akira Kurosawa, and Nelson Mandela.
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Prof. Sood joins a select group of 250 elected members for 2025. Other individuals of Indian origin honored this year include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and physicist Chennupati Jagadish of the Australian National University, as confirmed by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.
Born on June 26, 1951, Prof. Sood began his academic journey at Panjab University, earning B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in physics before entering the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre training school. While working at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, he earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in 1982. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart and a return stint at IGCAR, he joined IISc in 1988—where he has remained a central figure in Indian science ever since.
At IISc, Prof. Sood has held several leadership roles, including Chair of the Division of Physical and Mathematical Sciences from 1998 to 2008. His research spans a range of areas including quantum materials, soft matter, and active matter.
“This is a huge honor not only for him, but for the entire scientific community of the country,” said Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. “The past awardees have been distinguished scientists & innovators in all professions including Nobel laureates. Prof. Sood, who is well known for his work on physics of quantum materials, and soft and active matter, has played a phenomenal role in steering India’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem.”
In 2015, Prof. Sood was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), London. He currently serves as President of the Indian National Science Academy and previously held positions as Secretary-General of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and President of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore.
Congratulating him on the international honor, Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and India President at Qualcomm, said, “Congratulations to Prof. Ajay K. Sood on being elected as a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences. This amazing achievement resonates deeply with us at Qualcomm, recalling the immense pride we felt when our founder, Dr. Irwin Jacobs, received the same distinguished honor. Proudly celebrating visionary leaders who continue to drive scientific progress and innovation globally!”
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