Professor Deepak Dhar, a renowned Indian theoretical physicist, bagged the Dirac Medal 2026 from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, for his seminal contributions to theoretical physics, particularly in the field of statistical mechanics. The ICTP announced the award on August 8, 2026. Established in 1985, the Dirac Medal honours the legacy of legendary physicist Paul Dirac and recognises outstanding contributions to theoretical physics.
Deepak Dhar Shares Dirac Medal with Three Scientists
Prof. Dhar shares the Dirac Medal 2026 with three internationally acclaimed scientists: Prof. Bernard Derrida of France, Prof. Marc Mézard of Italy, and Prof. Haim Sompolinsky of Israel. The four scientists were recognised for pioneering contributions to equilibrium statistical mechanics and for extending its concepts and methods to areas including non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, optimisation problems, theoretical neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence. The recognition highlights the growing influence of statistical physics in several interdisciplinary fields, including modern computational science and AI.
Four Decades at TIFR
Prof. Dhar spent nearly four decades as a faculty member in the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai. During this period, he conducted much of his most influential research in theoretical physics and statistical mechanics. His work has earned international recognition and established him as one of India’s leading scientists in statistical physics.
Previous Recognition for Statistical Physics
The Dirac Medal adds to a distinguished list of honours received by Prof. Dhar. In 2022, he received the Boltzmann Medal from the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). He became the first Indian scientist to receive the prestigious award, which recognises outstanding contributions to statistical physics. A year later, in 2023, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Prof. Dhar for distinguished service of a high order in the field of science and engineering.
A Distinguished Career in Theoretical Physics
With the Dirac Medal 2026, Prof. Deepak Dhar adds another major international honour to his career. His contributions to statistical mechanics, along with his work connecting fundamental physics with broader scientific disciplines, have strengthened India’s standing in theoretical physics research. As reported by TIFR Science Communication, the award also underscores the continuing relevance of statistical mechanics in addressing complex problems across physics, optimisation, neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
