Deepak Dhar wins 2026 Dirac Medal for physics contributions

Indian physicist Deepak Dhar has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal for his significant contributions to statistical mechanics. Dhar, a professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bengaluru, is one of four recipients honored by the Italy-based International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

Dhar shares the award with Bernard Derrida of France, Marc Mezard of Italy, and Haim Sompolinsky of Israel and the United States. The group was recognized for research that aids the understanding of complex systems, with applications spanning biology, computer science, artificial intelligence, and financial markets.

Dhar is specifically noted for his work on the ‘sandpile model’, a concept used to explain how stable systems can undergo sudden, major changes. This model has been applied to study diverse phenomena including earthquakes, traffic jams, and market fluctuations.