Shri Kulkarni, an Indian-origin astronomer and one of the world’s leading figures in modern astrophysics, has been awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). This is the highest honour given by the UK-based scientific body and has been awarded annually since 1824.
The RAS said the award recognises Kulkarni’s long-standing and innovative contributions towards transient astrophysics, a field that studies short-lived and rapidly changing events in the universe. Past recipients of the medal include some of the most influential scientists in history, making it one of the most prestigious awards in astronomy.
Born in Maharashtra, Kulkarni completed his master’s degree at IIT Delhi in 1978 and earned his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1983. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has played a key role in shaping time-domain astronomy.
As a graduate student in 1982, he co-discovered the first millisecond pulsar. Later, at the California Institute of Technology, he was involved in several major discoveries, including the first brown dwarf and proof that gamma-ray bursts originate far beyond the Milky Way. In 2020, he was part of the team that identified the first fast radio burst detected within the Milky Way.
Kulkarni also led the development of major sky survey projects such as the Palomar Transient Factory and the Zwicky Transient Facility. His latest honour adds to a long list of global awards recognising his impact on astronomy.
