Professor Govind Swarup, of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is a research institution in India dedicated to basic research in mathematics and the sciences. It is a Deemed University and works under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. It is located at Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai...

 (TIFR), is an internationally renowned radio astronomer and one of the pioneers of radio astronomy

Radio astronomy

Radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies. The initial detection of radio waves from an astronomical object was made in the 1930s, when Karl Jansky observed radiation coming from the Milky Way. Subsequent observations have identified a number of...

. He is based in Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

, India, and is known not only for his many important research contributions in several areas of astronomy

Astronomy

Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...

 and astrophysics

Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...

, but also for his outstanding achievements in building ingenious, innovative and powerful observational facilities for front-line research in radio astronomy, namely, the Ooty Radio Telescope

Ooty Radio Telescope

The Ooty Radio Telescope is located in Muthorai near Ootacamund , south India. It is part of the National centre of Radio Astrophysics of the well known Tata Institute of Fundamental Research which is funded by the Government of India through the Department of atomic energy. The Ooty Radio...

 (India) and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope , located near Pune in India, is the world's largest, array of radio telescopes at metre wavelengths. It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.-Location:The GMRT is located around...

 (GMRT) near Pune.

He is a member of Indian National Science Academy

Indian National Science Academy

The Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...

 and Royal Society of London.

Under his leadership a strong group in radio astrophysics has been built at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, which is comparable to the best in the world.