Ashoke Sen wins 2026 Oskar Klein Medal, first Indian to receive honour

Ashoke Sen, who holds the ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bengaluru, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Oskar Klein Medal. The honour recognises Sen's fundamental contributions to string theory and theoretical physics.

Sen is widely recognised as a key architect of modern string theory, a theoretical framework proposing that the elementary constituents of matter are one-dimensional string-like objects rather than point particles. The theory seeks to provide a unified description of matter and the forces governing interactions between particles.

Established in 1988, the Oskar Klein Medal is awarded annually by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Named after Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein, the award honours distinguished researchers through the presentation of the Oskar Klein Memorial Lectures and the accompanying medal.

Sen's selection underscores India's growing prominence in theoretical physics and fundamental research. As the first Indian physicist to receive this international recognition, his achievement reflects the significant contributions Indian scientists continue to make to understanding the fundamental nature of the universe.