Biman B. Nath
Biman B. Nath is an educator, scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and bilingual author from Bangalore, India. He writes in English and Bengali. He is currently a visiting professor at IISER Mohali. Previously, he was a professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India.
His 2022 book Homi J Bhabha sheds light on the rich scientific legacy of Homi J Bhabha and his vision for India. Asian Age described the book as an authentic biography of a scientific pioneer.
Early life
Biman Nath was born in Assam to Binode Bihari Nath and Sabita Nath. He attended Narsing H S School and Gurucharan College in Silchar, then received his bachelor's degree in physics from Delhi University's Kirori Mal College, followed by a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1992.Career
Nath was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, then at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics India. He was a visiting professor at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado in 2004. He joined the Raman Research Institute in 1997. He has received the Vikram Sarabhai research award for space science in 2005. He has authored and co-authored more than 120 research papers. He is an active member of the International Astronomical Unit. He is often invited to deliver talks on research and development in astrophysics and astronomy. He also wrote columns for national papers such as Indian Express, ''The Hindu'', and other newspapers.Books
He has authored several books, including the following:- Mohabishwer Prothom Aalo, Book in Bengali, 2002, Anustup.
- Dawn of the Universe, Book in Bengali, 2006, Ananda Publishers.A review of his book ‘Nakkhotrer Gan’ published in the Guruchandali.
- Eyes on the sky: The story of telescope, Vigyan Prasar, 2010
- The story of helium and the birth of astrophysics, Springer, 2013. A review of his book ‘The story of helium and the birth of astrophysics’ published in the Journal of Astronomy History and Heritage
- Homi J Bhabha: A renaissance man among scientists, Niyogi Books, 2022
- Nokkhotrer sathe kotha koy prithibir pran, Book in Bengali, 2022, Sahitya Samsad
- Solar system in verse, Niyogi Books, 2022
- Ashanto Mahabishwo, Book in Bengali, 2023, Sahitya Samsad
- Bishmoye tai jaage, Book in Bengali, 2024, Nirjhar. A review of his book ‘Bishmoye tai jaage’ published in Sangbad Pratidin
- Nothing is Blue
- The Tattooed Fakir
Awards
- Rabindra Puraskar for his work Mohabishwer Prothom Aalo .
- Vikram Sarabhai Research Award for Space Science in 2005 shared along with BN DWivedi - Awarded by Indian National Science Academy.
- 2000 Humboldt Research Fellow, Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation.
- JILA Visiting Fellow, Colorado, USA, 2004-2005.