Soumya Swaminathan Becomes The Second Indian Woman To....

India’s leading scientist Soumya Swaminathan was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. She follows in the footsteps of her late father, Bharat Ratna M S Swaminathan who was also a Fellow of The Royal Society. (Image: X)

Soumya Swaminathan also became the second Indian woman scientist to be elected in more than 400-year history of the Royal Society. Prof Gagandeep Kang, a reputed vaccinologist was the first Indian woman scientist elected in 2019. (Image: X)

Furthermore, Soumya Swaminathan has now entered the coveted league of scientists in the order of Isaac Newton. Sharing the news, Raghunath Mashelkar, former DG, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and ex-President, Indian National Science Academy, wrote on X, “Dr Soumya Swaminathan has been lected as FRS, Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the highest global honours that a scientist can receive. With her father Bharat Ratna MS Swaminathan, also elected as FRS, this is the first daughter-father duo from India.” (Image: X)

Swamy Swaminathan is an Indian physician and scientist working as the principal advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) She is leading the strategy to achieve TB elimination targets by suggesting policy decisions and course corrections. She was Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation at the height of Covid-19 and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (Image: X)

Born on May 2, 1959, in Chennai, she was raised in a family that valued science, education and social responsibility. Her mother, Mina Swaminathan, was an influential social worker who specialised in preschool education, specifically for the underpriveledged children. Her father, Dr M S Swaminathan, was an Indian geneticist globally recognised for his leading role in India’s “Green Revolution”. The father-daughter dup not only made a record achievement but has also contributed immensely to its scientific growth and health. (Image: Facebook)