Atish Dabholkar, renowned for his significant contributions to string theory and quantum black holes research, is a theoretical physicist of Indian origin. Notably, he has been announced as the forthcoming director of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), located in Italy. Set to take over from Fernando Quevedo in November 2019, Dabholkar becomes the second Indian to secure the position in the history of ICTP, following Katepalli Sreenivasan.
Presently, Dabholkar heads the High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics section of ICTP in Trieste, one of Italy’s northeastern cities. Among his accolades, he adds the 2006 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Science and Technology. His academic journey started in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, proceeded to graduate from IIT, Kanpur and culminated in a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Princeton University.
Before 2010, Dabholkar held a professorship position at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. He has also served as a visiting professor at Stanford University and a visiting scientist at the prestigious CERN.
Understanding International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
The ICTP was established in 1964 by the then Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam. The organization has a primary objective of equipping scientists from developing countries with the necessary skills and education for thriving careers. ICTP has played a crucial role in curtailing the scientific brain drain from developing nations.
A Glimpse into String Theory
String theory works to fuse quantum mechanics – which describe the universe’s particles behavior – and Albert Einstein’s relativity theory into a framework capable of explaining all physical reality. It postulates that particles are one-dimensional, string-like entities, and it’s their vibrations that determine their properties, including mass and charge.
An Overview of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
The European epicenter for nuclear research, CERN, was established in 1954 with a view to facilitate world-class fundamental physics research. The organization houses several unique particle accelerator facilities, the most powerful being the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Atish Dabholkar |
| Position | New director of ICTP |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Award | Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Science and Technology 2006 |
| Education | Schooling in Kolhapur, Graduation from IIT Kanpur, PhD from Princeton University |
The Science of Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics involves the creation of mathematical formalisms and computational protocols useful for describing every aspect of objects found in our world and how they interact. This either provides models for understanding empirical results or devises self-logical theories to explain phenomena beyond the current experiments’ scope.
The Prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology is a prestigious award named after the late Dr. (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, who was the founding Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India. It is annually awarded for recognizing exceptional contributions to science and technology.