ICRAR’s Dr Luca Cortese has been awarded the Bappu Gold Medal for contributions to astronomy and astrophysics by a young scientist.
The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) presents the award every two years in memory of Professor M. K. Vainu Bappu to promote knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics and honour the contributions made by young scientists, normally not beyond 35 years of age, from any part of the world, in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
Dr Luca Cortese earned the 2012 award in 2015 but had been unable to attend a formal ceremony to receive the honour until now. The ceremony took place in Jaipur on March 7 as part of the annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of India.
Dr Luca Cortese receiving the Bappu Gold medal at a ceremony in Jaipur (india) on March 7 as part of the annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).
Manali Kallat Vainu Bappu, who the award is named in honour of, was an Indian astronomer and president of the International Astronomical Union. Bappu helped establish several astronomical institutions in India—including the Vainu Bappu Observatory—and also contributed to the establishment of the modern Indian Institute of Astrophysics. In 1957, he discovered the Wilson-Bappu effect jointly with American astronomer Olin Chaddock Wilson. He is regarded as the father of modern Indian astronomy.
