Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian physicist to receive Oskar Klein Medal

Theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen has been awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, becoming the first Indian scientist to receive the prestigious international award.

The Bengaluru-based International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) announced the honour on Saturday. Professor Sen, an ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture at Stockholm University's AlbaNova Centre on 22 October, speaking on 'Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity'.

The award highlights India's expanding influence in advanced fundamental science and high-level theoretical physics.

Scientific contributions and global recognition

Jointly awarded by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Oskar Klein Medal has recognised exceptional work in physics annually since 1988. It is named in memory of Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein.

Professor Sen is recognised globally for his pioneering contributions to S-duality, the precise counting of black hole entropy, and string field theory. His research has played a critical role in establishing the unifying framework of modern string theory.

ICTS Director Rajesh Gopakumar congratulated Professor Sen on the distinction, noting his role in driving scientific excellence within India's research ecosystem.

"On behalf of all of us, very warm congratulations to Ashoke. It has been no less than wonderful having Ashoke with us and setting the tone for excellence here at ICTS," Gopakumar said.

Major honours awarded to Ashoke Sen

By winning the Oskar Klein Medal, Professor Sen joins a distinguished group of past recipients that includes Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Steven Weinberg, and Hans Bethe, who were awarded the medal during its initial three years.