Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood named International Science Council Fellow for 2026

Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, has been named a Fellow of the International Science Council (ISC) for 2026, recognising his contributions to the global science system and efforts to promote a more equitable and inclusive science-advice ecosystem.

The ISC announced its new cohort on Oct 16, ahead of the Beijing Science Dialogue. It described the fellowship as the highest honour the council can confer on an individual. The new fellows represent nearly 30 countries and join a network of more than 200 scientists and science-policy leaders working to strengthen international scientific cooperation.

His selection brings recognition to his work across two areas: research in physics and the use of scientific expertise in public policy.

From physics research to science policy

Prof. Sood has served as India’s Principal Scientific Adviser since April 2022. He also chairs the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) and is a National Science Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

He holds a doctorate in physics from IISc. His research interests include quantum materials, soft matter and active matter, and his official government profile records more than 495 papers in peer-reviewed journals and several patents.

Before becoming Principal Scientific Adviser, Sood served on the PM-STIAC from 2018 to March 2022. He was also a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister from 2009 to 2014.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on science and technology. Its responsibilities include coordinating major inter-ministerial science and technology missions, supporting technology-led innovation and strengthening links among government, academia and industry.

He has received the Padma Shri and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015. He has also served as president of the Indian National Science Academy and the Indian Academy of Sciences.

International recognition for scientific leadership

The ISC’s 2026 cohort includes researchers and science-policy leaders from different disciplines and institutions. The council says its fellows are expected to support international collaboration, strengthen links between science and policy, and help ensure scientific knowledge informs decisions affecting society.

In its announcement, Salim Abdool Karim, chair of the ISC Fellowship Council, said the new fellows had been recognised for their work as practitioners, policymakers and advocates for science. He said the fellowship also carried responsibilities to promote science as a global public good.

Sood has received several other major scientific honours. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in the United Kingdom in 2015, received the Padma Shri, and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025 and the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2026, according to his official profile.

He previously served as president of the Indian National Science Academy from 2017 to 2019 and president of the Indian Academy of Sciences from 2010 to 2012. He was also secretary-general of The World Academy of Sciences from 2013 to 2018.

What the fellowship represents

Established in June 2022, the ISC Fellowship recognises scientists, engineers and thought leaders who contribute to science in and for society. Fellows are nominated by ISC members, existing fellows, the council’s president and chief executive, and partner networks.

The council’s stated goal is to advance science as a global public good by supporting international cooperation and encouraging scientific knowledge to be shared and used responsibly.

For Sood, the recognition comes as India seeks to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem and improve coordination between universities, laboratories, industry and government. His role in science advice places him at the intersection of research priorities and public decision-making, although the ISC announcement does not identify a specific Indian policy or programme as the basis for his fellowship.

The new fellows are expected to contribute their expertise and networks to the ISC’s work on scientific cooperation and science-policy engagement. The Beijing Science Dialogue, held under the theme of science in a complex world and science for a better future, provides an international forum for those discussions.