For college kids fascinated by the questions hidden past Earth, astrophysics provides a profession constructed round that curiosity — nevertheless it additionally calls for a protracted tutorial journey and the persistence to maintain asking tough questions. Indian astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam’s profession provides a glimpse of that journey, significantly for younger girls contemplating a future in science.
Who’s Annapurni Subramaniam?
Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, has spent greater than three many years finding out stars, star clusters and galaxies. Her analysis pursuits embrace star clusters, blue stragglers, the Magellanic Clouds, close by galaxies and ultraviolet astronomy. She has authored round 175 analysis papers and guided 15 PhD college students, based on IIA.
Her current recognition as the primary Indian lady to obtain the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal has introduced renewed consideration to her work. The award, offered by the Committee on House Analysis (COSPAR), recognises important contributions to area analysis. She is the fourth Indian to obtain the medal and the primary Indian lady to take action.
However the achievement is greater than a milestone. A lot of Subramaniam’s work has concerned constructing India’s capabilities in space-based astronomy. She served because the calibration scientist for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat, India’s first devoted multi-wavelength area observatory. Her work concerned making certain that the instrument may precisely seize ultraviolet observations of celestial objects, one thing that’s tough to do from Earth as a result of the ambiance absorbs a lot of this radiation.
She can also be the Principal Investigator of INSIST, a proposed ultraviolet-optical area telescope, and has contributed to India’s participation within the Thirty Meter Telescope venture.
Let curiosity cleared the path
Talking at The New Indian Specific’ ThinkEdu Conclave in 2024, Subramaniam spoke about the importance of resilience for girls in STEM and pursuing one’s objectives regardless of setbacks.
“We should endeavor to make the evening sky, adorned with a large number of stars, seen to all — a sight presently elusive to many. Initiatives are required to determine areas granting common entry to the evening sky. Concurrently, we have to tackle the problem of power wastage by curbing the pointless illumination in areas the place it serves no function,” she stated.
