The International Society for Quantum Gravity (ISQG) commemorates scientists whose work has made lasting contributions to gravitation, cosmology, quantum gravity, and related areas of fundamental physics and continues to influence and inspire current research into the fundamental laws of nature. Through their work, these researchers have shaped and advanced our understanding of the nature of space, time, and the Universe.
Prof. Rafael Dolnick Sorkin (1945–2026)
Founder of the causal set approach to quantum gravity. Made seminal contributions to the role of causality and topology in quantum gravity and gave an accurate prediction for the cosmological “constant”. Proposed the concept of entanglement entropy, now widely used in physics, which he proposed as a source of black hole entropy. Constructed the Kaluza-Klein monopole, widely used in string theory. He is also the founder of the quantum measure approach to quantum theory.
Prof. Naresh Dadhich (1944–2025)
Made influential contributions to general relativity, black hole physics, higher-dimensional gravity, and gravitational theory. He played a central role in establishing IUCAA as a leading Centre for gravitation and cosmology research and inspired generations of researchers through his scientific vision and leadership.
Prof. Kellogg Stelle (1948–2025)
Made important contributions to higher-derivative quantum gravity, supergravity, and braneworld cosmology.
Prof. Chen-Ning Yang (1922–2025)
Made foundational contributions to theoretical physics, particularly through the development of Yang–Mills theory, which became a cornerstone of modern gauge theories and the Standard Model of particle physics.
Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (1938–2025)
Co-developed the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravitation and pioneered alternative cosmological models. As the founding Director of IUCAA, he made lasting contributions to astrophysics, cosmology, science education, and public engagement with science.
Prof. Jerzy Lewandowski (1959–2024)
One of the leading architects of Loop Quantum Gravity. His work on quantum geometry, black hole entropy, and the mathematical foundations of background-independent quantum gravity significantly advanced our understanding of spacetime at the quantum level.
Prof. Jim Simons (1938–2024)
Made important contributions to differential geometry, including the development of Chern–Simons theory, which has had a lasting influence on mathematical physics and topology.
Prof. Alexei A. Starobinsky (1948–2023)
Pioneered inflationary cosmology through the Starobinsky inflation model. He also made foundational contributions to quantum gravity, black hole physics, and relativistic cosmology.
Prof. Eugenio Calabi (1923–2023)
Made seminal contributions to differential geometry, particularly through the Calabi conjecture and the development of Calabi–Yau manifolds, which became central to the mathematical foundations of string theory.
Prof. Charles Misner (1932– 2023)
Made foundational contributions to general relativity, the ADM formalism, numerical relativity, and quantum cosmology.
Prof. James B. Hartle (1939–2023)
Co-developed the Hartle Hawking no-boundary proposal and made foundational contributions to quantum cosmology and the quantum description of the early Universe.
Prof. Stanley Deser (1931–2023)
Made fundamental contributions to general relativity, the ADM formulation of gravitational dynamics, and supergravity.
Prof. James Bardeen (1939–2022)
Made foundational contributions to general relativity, including the laws of black hole mechanics and black hole thermodynamics.
Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan (1957–2021)
Made seminal contributions to gravitation, cosmology, horizon thermodynamics, and emergent gravity. His work revealed deep connections between gravity, thermodynamics, and the microscopic structure of spacetime.
Prof. Steven Weinberg (1933–2021)
Made foundational contributions to quantum field theory, particle physics, and gravitation. His work on electro weak theory, effective field theory, quantum gravity, and cosmology has had a lasting influence on fundamental physics.
Prof. Martinus Veltman (1931–2021)
Made major contributions to quantum field theory and the renormalisation of gauge theories and gravity. His work with Gerard ’t Hooft helped establish the quantum structure of the electroweak interaction and proved the one-loop finiteness of pure quantum gravity.
