Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, one of India’s most accomplished astrophysicists, has been awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026, becoming the first Indian woman scientist and only the fourth Indian to receive the prestigious international honour.
She received the medal at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to space research in developing countries. The honour also places her among a select global group, as she is only the third woman worldwide to receive the award.
Currently serving as the Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, and heading the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Professor Subramaniam has spent more than three decades advancing India’s capabilities in astronomy and space science through research, scientific leadership and mentoring.
A childhood fascination with the night sky
Born in Palakkad, Kerala, Professor Subramaniam’s interest in astronomy began long before she entered the world of scientific research. During her school years, she would wake before sunrise in the summer to study and spend time observing the night sky.
One sight in particular fascinated her, the bright band of the Milky Way, which appeared in the same part of the sky every morning. Curious about what it was and why it remained in the same position, she found herself searching for answers, although there was no one around her who could explain the phenomenon. That childhood curiosity eventually shaped her life’s work.
After completing her Master’s degree in Physics, she was determined to pursue a career connected with astronomy. She joined a collaborative astronomy programme involving the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO, and the Raman Research Institute before joining the Indian Institute of Astrophysics as a Research Fellow in 1990.
Nearly three decades later, in 2019, she created history by becoming the first woman to head the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Contributions to astronomy and space science
Professor Subramaniam’s research spans a broad range of subjects, including star clusters, stellar populations, nearby galaxies, classical Be stars, blue straggler stars, young stellar objects, the Magellanic Clouds and ultraviolet astronomy. Her work has significantly advanced understanding of stellar evolution and the life cycles of stars.
She has authored around 175 scientific publications and supervised 15 PhD scholars, while mentoring numerous young researchers in astronomy and astrophysics.
Among her most significant contributions has been her role in AstroSat, India’s first dedicated space observatory, launched in 2015. As the calibration scientist for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat, she led the telescope’s in-orbit performance verification and played a crucial role in ensuring its scientific success.
Building on that experience, she now serves as the Principal Investigator of INSIST (Indian Spectroscopic and Imaging Space Telescope), India’s proposed next-generation ultraviolet-optical space telescope.
Professor Subramaniam has also played an important role in the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project, one of the world’s largest international astronomy collaborations. India is among the partner nations in the project, with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics serving as the country’s coordinating centre.
The prestigious COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal
The COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal is among the highest international honours in space science. Instituted in 1990, it commemorates Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of India’s space programme and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The medal is jointly awarded every two years by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and ISRO to scientists from developing countries for exceptional contributions to space research. COSPAR is an international scientific organisation affiliated with the International Science Council and recognised by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS).
With the 2026 honour, Professor Subramaniam joins an exclusive group of Indian recipients that includes U R Rao (1996), former ISRO Chairman, Gurbax Singh Lakhina (2014), noted space plasma physicist, and Anil Bhardwaj (2024), Director of ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory.
Leadership beyond research
In addition to her scientific contributions, Professor Subramaniam has held several important leadership positions within India’s scientific community. Along with directing the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, she heads the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru.
She is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, India, and a life member of both the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Astronomical Society of India.
She has chaired the Membership Committee of the International Astronomical Union, served as Chief Editor of the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy between 2019 and 2024, and currently serves as Scientific Editor of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Recognition and interests beyond science
Over the years, Professor Subramaniam has received numerous honours for her contributions to science. These include the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar – Vigyan Shri (2024) in Space Science and Technology, the NDTV Science Icon of the Year 2024, the Future Forward Female Award by CNBC-News18, the Devi Award, the Vanitha Ratna Award (2023)from the Government of Kerala, and recognition among India Today’s Top 100 Women Achievers (2023).
Away from astronomy, she is also a trained violinist, having grown up in a family deeply rooted in Carnatic music. She has often credited her musical upbringing for shaping her creativity and discipline. Another passion is creating traditional kolam (rangoli) designs, which she has described as a “morning puzzle” that stimulates her mind.
From a child captivated by the mysterious glow of the Milky Way to becoming one of India’s most distinguished astrophysicists, Professor Annapurni Subramaniam’s journey reflects decades of scientific excellence, perseverance and leadership. Her latest international recognition underscores India’s growing stature in global astronomy while inspiring a new generation of scientists, especially women, to pursue careers in space research.
