How women physicists in India are breaking down barriers and shaping the future

India has been home to several remarkable women physicists throughout history. Bibha Chowdhuri, who co-discovered the meson and became the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in physics, and Ritu Karidhal, who played a crucial role in India becoming the fourth nation to reach Mars, are just a couple of examples. Despite women constituting more than 40% of Indian science graduates, they only represent approximately 16% of physics faculty positions at universities in the country, which is close to the global average of roughly 17%.

There are various factors contributing to this disparity, such as societal expectations to prioritize family over research, the absence of visible role models, and even instances of sexual misconduct. Recently, IOP Publishing organized a webinar to celebrate the achievements of female physicists in India and discuss the challenges they face.

The event featured Kaveri Hukku, Asima Pradhan, and Urbasi Sinha, all prominent figures in their respective fields. Kaveri Hukku, CEO of ATOS Instruments Marketing Services, started her career in industry after completing her BSc and MSc in physics. Asima Pradhan, a laser physicist with a PhD from City University of New York and a long tenure at IIT Kanpur, has recently retired and is now an adjunct professor at SOA University in Bhubaneswar.

Urbasi Sinha, head of the quantum information and computing lab at Raman Research Institute, studied physics at Jadavpur University and earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge. She is currently leading research in quantum science and technology applications, including India's first project on satellite-based quantum communication.