Chandrima Shaha has been appointed as the first woman president of The Indian National Science Academy (INSA), in its 85-year history.

Shaha – who was the director of the National Institute of Immunology, has held several key positions in Science academia over the years. She was the Vice President (International) of the Indian National Science Academy (2016-2018) and is an elected fellow of the World Academy of Sciences.

Interestingly, she was the vice-captain of West Bengal’s first-ever women’s cricket team and was also the first woman cricket commentator for All India Radio.

Congratulations Dr. Chandima Shaha, President-elect ( 2020) @insa_academy . Known for her laboratory's work on cell-death in the context of parasitic diseases. Dr. Shaha is a former Director of @NImmunology . First woman President in @insa_academy >80 years. pic.twitter.com/7bOFJqRe9G — Principal Scientific Adviser, Govt. of India (@PrinSciAdvGoI) August 3, 2019

Here’s is all you need to know about the newest President of the INSA.

Education background

Shaha graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Calcutta and did her doctoral research in from the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology.

She then went on to do a post doctoral from the University of Kansas Medical Centre. Later, she worked at the Population Council, New York City. In 1984 she joined the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi as a scientist.

Positions held

The academician has also served as the Council Member for the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad (2016-2017), Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (2013-2015) and as Council member of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (2015-18).

Awards and Accolades

The president-elect of the INSA has various awards and accolades to her name. She was awarded the Shakuntala Amirchand Award of Indian Council of Medical Research, 1992. She won the J.C. Bose National Fellowship, Dept. of Science and Technology, 2009. In 2015 Om Prakash Bhasin Award was given to Shaha. In 2019 she won the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal.

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