Dibyendu Nandi

Dibyendu Nandi is an astrophysicist and space scientist specializing in understanding the origin of the Sun’s dynamic activity and its influence on planetary space environments.  His scientific interests span non-linear dynamics and predictability of magnetohydrodynamic systems, solar and stellar dynamo theory, star-planet interactions, the atmospheric evolution of exoplanets, and space weather. He uses theory, computational modelling, observational data analysis and machine learning approaches to address scientific problems across these domains and sometimes dabbles with proof-of-concept instruments in collaboration with experimental physicists. The guiding philosophy of his scientific pursuit is to use all the tools available to a scientist to explore some of the most profound questions in stellar and (exo)planetary physics and to translate fundamental understanding to utilitarian models and algorithms for the protection of space-reliant technologies that sustains modern societies.  

Dibyendu obtained his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science and subsequently spent several years in the United States of America working at the Solar Physics Group at Montana State University on various NASA and NSF projects. Following his return to India he established the multi-institutional Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India at IISER Kolkata. Recently, he moved to the Raman Research Institute and joined its faculty. Dibyendu has held visiting positions at Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA), St Andrews University (UK), Georgia State University (USA) and the Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics (NORDITA, Sweden).

Dibyendu’s honours include the Martin Forster Gold Medal for the best thesis from the Indian Institute of Science, the Harvey Prize of the American Astronomical Society, the Modali Award of the Astronomical Society of India, the Asia Pacific Solar Physics Meeting Society’s Early Career Award and the Peraiah Foundation award for outstanding contributions to theoretical astrophysics. He is a Co-I on ISRO’s Aditya-L1 Space Mission and serves as a member on the mission’s Science Working Group. Dibyendu has served as Vice Chair of the Panel on Space Weather of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Chairperson of the Public Outreach and Education Committee of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI) and is currently the President of Commission E4 of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and a member of India’s IAU National Membership Committee. Dibyendu served as Chairperson of ISRO’s Aditya L1 Space Weather Monitoring and Predictions planning committee, led the drafting of the Solar and Heliospheric vision for ASI’s decadal vision in Astronomy and Astrophysics and contributed to the Exoplanets decadal vision document of the same organization. He was an expert member and contributor to India’s Mega Science Vision 2035 in Astronomy and Astrophysics coordinated by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.