DIVYA DELHI : Indian astrophysicist and Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Director Professor Annapurni Subramaniam has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to receive the prestigious COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal for 2026. The international honour recognises outstanding contributions to space research in developing countries. Subramaniam received the award during the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly held in Florence, Italy, in August 2026. She is the fourth Indian scientist to receive the medal, following U.R. Rao, Gurbax Singh Lakhina and Anil Bhardwaj. A leading researcher in stellar physics, Subramaniam has made significant contributions to the study of star clusters, stellar populations, nearby galaxies and ultraviolet astronomy. She also played a key role in India’s space-based astronomy programme as the calibration scientist for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat. The medal is jointly awarded by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and ISRO in honour of Vikram Sarabhai, one of the key architects of India’s space programme.
