An interview with Professor Rajesh Gopakumar
Prof. Rajesh Gopakumar is a highly respected figure in theoretical physics, with a particular focus on the intersection of quantum field theory and string theory. His academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Physics from IIT-Kanpur, followed by a Ph.D. at Princeton University. Gopakumar's postdoctoral work took him to Harvard University before he joined the Harish-Chandra Research Institute in 2001, where he served as an Associate Professor and then Professor. He also spent time as a visiting long-term member at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton from 2001 to 2004.
Gopakumar's contributions to physics have been widely recognized. He has received several prestigious awards, including the ICTP Prize in honor of G. C. Wick (2006), the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2009), the Swarnajayanthi Fellowship (2006), the J. C. Bose Fellowship (2015), the G. D. Birla Prize (2013), and the TWAS Prize in the Physical Sciences (2013). His fellowships with the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, and the National Academy of Sciences, India, as well as his election as a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2015, underscore his significant impact on the field.
About Prof. Gopakumar
Prof. Gopakumar's research has largely focused on understanding why string theory serves as a natural framework for describing various phenomena. His work on the AdS/CFT correspondence, topological string theory, and other areas of string theory has been groundbreaking. He has been instrumental in uncovering new examples of AdS/CFT correspondence and applying topological string theory to enumerative invariants, among other achievements.
As the director of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Gopakumar oversees a wide range of activities and initiatives aimed at advancing theoretical sciences. ICTS hosts programs across various domains such as statistical physics, fluid dynamics, physical biology, string theory, quantum gravity, and mathematics. The center is also involved in numerous outreach and educational programs, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of theoretical sciences among the wider community.
In 2023, Prof. Gopakumar was recognized with the Frontiers of Science Award for his contributions to the understanding of the AdS/CFT correspondence. This award highlighted a paper co-authored by Prof. Gopakumar that provided a concrete example of this duality, offering insights into the correspondence for a particular example and shedding light on the tensionless limit in string theory. This work has opened avenues for further exploration of the correspondence in other dimensions of spacetime.
Prof. Gopakumar's dedication to exploring the fundamental questions of theoretical physics and his leadership at ICTS reflect his commitment to advancing the field and nurturing the next generation of scientists.
"The uniquely human aspects of creativity, of taking a leap, which is and especially, in physics or mathematics, sometimes it's knowing the right question to ask."
- Professor Rajesh Gopakumar
Video Interview
Watch this insightful interview with Prof. Rajesh Gopakumar, Centre Director, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru, India.