Indian Origin US based scientist Professor Shriniwas Kulkarni has been honored with Gold Medal at Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) one of the historically well known organisations for astronomy and sciences in United Kingdom.
Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni, an Indian-born Maharashtrian and U.S.-based scientist, has marked a historic milestone by being awarded the Gold Medal of the prestigious Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in the United Kingdom, joining the ranks of eminent scientists such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He is well known for his revolutionary contributions to astrophysics, which include the discovery of brown dwarfs and far-off gamma-ray bursts. He is the George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is a prestigious academic institution dedicated to the advancement of astronomy, solar system studies, geophysics, and related Earth and space sciences. Among its various honours, the Gold Medal stands as the Society’s highest award. The RAS bylaws grant the Council full discretion in determining the criteria for the award. Historically, nominations were largely limited to astronauts. However, recent regulations have broadened eligibility, allowing nominations to be made on the basis of either a lifetime of scholarly contribution or a specific, highly significant piece of research.
Read more about the award: https://ras.ac.uk/awards-and-grants/awards/gold-medal-a
In the 2026 RAS Awards announcement, the Gold Medal was conferred on Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni, an astrophysicist of Indian origin. The RAS recognised him for his “sustained, innovative and ground-breaking contributions to multi-wavelength transient astrophysics,” which have played a pivotal role in advancing the understanding of transient astronomical phenomena across different wavelengths. Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni has joined the ranks of renowned scientists like Stephen Hawking, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Albert Einstein, and Edwin Hubble by winning the Gold Medal from this prestigious and historic institution.
Read more about the 2026 award winners: https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/winners-2026-ras-awards-revealed
Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni remarked that he was suprised by the news and notes the discovery of the first millisecond pulsar as most noteable achievement. His leadership in large-scale survey projects such as the Palomar Transient Factory and the Zwicky Transient Facility has also transformed observational astronomy by fostering collaborative, data-driven research models. He stated that
“I was very surprised to hear the news, especially given the stellar list of past winners. I would like to thank my long-term collaborators and the engineering crew and members of the Palomar Transient Factory and the Zwicky Transient Facility for their immense contribution to the projects. The discovery of the first millisecond pulsar was the most fun achievement of my life. I was a graduate student when I made the discovery, and I could not sleep for several days!”
Professor Kulkarni's honor at RAS a historical and places Indian scientists in a prominent position within the global scientific community, ushering in a new era that will inspire future researchers and emphasize the value of unwavering curiosity, collaboration, and creativity in advancing scientific knowledge.
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