Is Prof Ajay K Sood the Latest Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences?

New Delhi, April 30 (NationPress) Prof Ajay K Sood, who serves as the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the central government, has been honored with election to the renowned American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS), as announced by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser on Wednesday.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, the Office mentioned, “Prof Ajay Sood, PSA to the Government of India, has been elected as an International Honorary Member (IHM) of the distinguished American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his outstanding contributions to Public Affairs and Public Policy.”

Describing this as a “proud” moment, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge) for Science and Technology, remarked that this is “a rare distinction not only for him but for India as well.”

Appointed as PSA in April 2022, Sood also chairs the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

This esteemed physicist holds the position of National Science Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. With a Doctorate in Physics, his research spans the Physics of Quantum materials, soft, and active matter. He has authored over 450 papers in peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous patents.

Among the ten individuals of Indian origin elected to the AAAS in its 2025 cohort, Sood was recognized for his significant contributions to academia, science, public health, technology, and the arts.

Notable names in this cohort include Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; Ashish Jha, dean at Brown University School of Public Health; Anurag Agrawal, ecologist at Cornell University; Kavita Bala, provost at Cornell University; Usha Goswami, director at the Centre for Neuroscience in Education, University of Cambridge; Chennupati Jagadish, distinguished professor at the Australian National University; Suresh Subramani, molecular biologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Diego; Samir Mitragotri, professor at Harvard University; and Salil Vadhan, a computer scientist at Harvard University.

Established in 1780, the Academy honors excellence and encourages meaningful dialogues on significant global challenges.

“The Academy celebrates excellence across diverse disciplines and professions, and our newly elected members have showcased expertise and leadership of exceptional breadth and impact,” stated Goodwin Liu, Chair of the Board and Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Induction ceremonies for the new members are scheduled to take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October 2025.