String theorist Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive the Oskar Klein Medal
Physicist Ashoke Sen of ICTS, Bengaluru, received the 2026 Oskar Klein Medal, awarded by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics, becoming the first Indian to win it, and delivered the Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture in Stockholm on 22 October 2026.
Summary
The International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru, announced on 22 October 2026 that Prof. Ashoke Sen has been awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, making him the first Indian physicist to receive it. The medal, named after Swedish physicist Oskar Klein, has been awarded annually since 1988 by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Sen, the ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, is known for pioneering work on S-duality, precision counting of black-hole entropy and string field theory. He delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture, 'Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity', at Stockholm University's AlbaNova Centre on 22 October. His earlier honours include the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012) and the Dirac Medal (2014).
Key facts
- Awardee
- Prof. Ashoke Sen, ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, ICTS Bengaluru
- Award
- Oskar Klein Medal 2026 (first Indian recipient)
- Awarded by
- Stockholm University and Nobel Committee for Physics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Since
- 1988, annually
- Lecture
- 'Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity', AlbaNova Centre, 22 Oct 2026
- Known for
- S-duality, black-hole entropy counting, string field theory
- Earlier honours
- Breakthrough Prize 2012, Dirac Medal 2014, Padma Bhushan 2013
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which Indian physicist became the first Indian to receive the Oskar Klein Medal, in October 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Ashoke Sen
The Oskar Klein Medal, awarded to Ashoke Sen in 2026, is given by Stockholm University together with which body?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences