Who Is Soumya Swaminathan? Former WHO chief Scientist Elected Fellow of Royal Society

Former WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), becoming part of India’s first father-daughter duo to receive the prestigious scientific honour. Her father, Bharat Ratna awardee and agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, was elected FRS in 1973.

The Fellowship of the Royal Society, founded in 1660 in the UK, is regarded as one of the highest recognitions in global science and is awarded to researchers for exceptional contributions to their fields.

Who is Soumya Swaminathan?

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, a paediatrician and medical researcher, previously served as chief scientist at the World Health Organization and director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). She is known for her work on tuberculosis,

HIV and global public health policy, and played a key role during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the latest recognition, she also becomes only the second Indian woman scientist to be elected Fellow of the Royal Society in its 365-year history after vaccinologist Gagandeep Kang.

The development was announced by noted scientist Raghunath Mashelkar, former director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, who described it as a landmark moment for Indian science.

M S Swaminathan, widely known as the architect of India’s Green Revolution, was recognised globally for his work in agricultural science and food security.