New Ramanujan Scheme Connects Young Indian Scientists to London

A new initiative, the Ramanujan Junior Researchers programme, aims to connect some of India’s most promising young theoretical physicists and mathematicians with the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS). Launched with the support of India’s Department for Science and Technology (DST), this programme was announced following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s recent visit to India.

Named after the renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, the scheme pays homage to his significant collaboration with British mathematician G H Hardy, which began in 1913. Their partnership has profoundly influenced modern mathematics, and the new programme seeks to foster similar relationships between Indian and British scientists.

Dr Thomas Fink, Director of LIMS, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Our Ramanujan Junior Researchers programme will act as a bridge for the exchange of talents between two science superpowers.” He noted that Ramanujan’s groundbreaking work alongside Hardy transformed the field of mathematical sciences and expressed hope that this new venture will inspire a similar exchange of ideas.

The programme’s development was led by Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, with assistance from Professor Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan, who previously served as the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India. Doraiswami remarked, “The story of Hardy and Ramanujan reminds us that science advances not through isolation, but through friendship and dialogue.” He believes this initiative will provide young Indian scientists with opportunities akin to those that Ramanujan once experienced.

The first phase of the project will focus on bringing Ramanujan Junior Visitors, specifically Indian PhD students from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). Selected students will spend several months working at LIMS, located in London’s prestigious Mayfair district. During their stay, these visitors will attend lectures and engage in collaborative research with leading scientists at LIMS.

Initially, the programme aims to accommodate up to six PhD students from JNCASR. Plans are in place to expand the initiative in subsequent years, attracting the best young theoretical physicists and mathematicians from across India.

In its second phase, the Ramanujan Junior Fellowships will open applications to candidates from India who have recently completed their PhDs. This expansion will welcome gifted Indian physicists and mathematicians to LIMS for a transformative three-year experience, allowing them to establish connections with their British counterparts.

LIMS is actively seeking funding for the Ramanujan Junior Fellowships. This research organization, based in the Royal Institution, is dedicated to accelerating scientific discovery and has made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and physics, including winning several Nobel Prizes and discovering ten chemical elements, as well as foundational principles of electromagnetism.

The Ramanujan Junior Researchers programme represents a significant step toward enhancing scientific collaboration between India and the UK, fostering a new generation of researchers in the process.