Research

Main areas of research: Biodiversity, evolution of insects, social behaviour of wasps

Raghavendra Gadagkar is an Indian zoologist who researches biodiversity and the evolution of insects. His work involving the origin and evolution of social behaviour in wasps is ground-breaking.

Raghavendra Gadagkar is considered one of the most important researchers in the field of biodiversity. He is thereby not concerned with just taking stock of the existing species on the planet, but rather in what way the enormous diversity of species and their corresponding behaviours and survival strategies might develop on the earth. Gadagkar was able to produce groundbreaking insights into the social behaviour of insects, particularly with regard to wasps. He investigated under what conditions altruistic behaviour by the insects was beneficial and at what times it was better for them to meet life´s challenges on their own. His findings led to the development of his “assured fitness return” theory, which states that social behaviour under special conditions - such as, for example, under the strain caused by raiders – can lead to increased reproduction successes.

In addition, he is actively engaged in the exchange of scientific knowledge – both internationally and interdisciplinarily. He was the President of the Indian National Science Academy and founder of the Centre for Contemporary Studies, the goal of which is the creation of a platform for forging meaningful interaction between the natural sciences and the human sciences. In 2015 he received The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his commitment to this project.

Career

• 2018-2023 Honorary Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, India
• 2017-2022 Year of Science Chair Professorship, Department of Science and Technology, India
• 2015-2017 Visiting Professor at the Central University of Punjab, India
• 2013-2016 Honorary Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Mohali, India
• 2010-2015 Honorary Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Kolkata, India
• 2010-2014 INSA S.N. Bose Research Professorship
• 2006-2010 Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Kolkata
• 1998-2019 Honorary Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur Campus, India
• since 1997 Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, India
• 1992-2002 Chair of the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
• 1991-1997 Lecturer at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
• since 1987 Associate Member, Centre for Theoretical Studies, Indian Institute of Science
• 1987-1991 Assistant Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
• 1983-1984 Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Theoretical Studies, Indian Institute of Science
• 1982 Visiting scientist at the Department of Entomology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
• 1980-1981 Short-term Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama
• 1979 PhD at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
• 1974 Master of Science in zoology at the Bangalore University, India
• 1972 Bachelor of Science in zoology at the Bangalore University, India

Functions

• 2014-2016 President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA)
• 2007-2010 Vice President of the Entomology Academy of India, Chennai, India
• 2004-2018 Chair of the Centre for Contemporary Studies, Indian Institute of Science
• 2003-2005 Vice President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA)

Projects

• 2005 Member of the Indian Delegation of the Inter-Academy Panel Shanghai and the International Council for Science in Suzhou, China

Honors and Memberships

• 2021 Distinguished Animal Behaviorist, for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Animal Behaviorist, Animal Behavior Society, Glenview, USA
• 2017 Ausländisches Ehrenmitglied der American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Cambridge, USA
• 2016 Visiting Research Scholar, University of Exeter, UK
• 2015 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• 2015 Honorary doctorate of the University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India
• 2014 A.V. Rama Rao Technology Prize of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India
• 2014 Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Prize, Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association
• 2011 Sir M. Visvesvaraya Senior Scientist`s state award, Government of Karnataka, India
• since 2012 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 2010 Millennium Medal, Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata, India
• 2008 H K Firodia award for excellence in Science & Technology
• 2007 Elected Foundation Fellow of the Entomology Academy of India, Chennai
• 2007 Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Visiting Fellowship der Indian National Science Academy
• since 2006 Elected Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences, USA
• 2006-2016 JC Bose National Fellowship, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
• 2005 Prof. U.S. Srivastava Memorial Lecture of the National Academy of Sciences, India
• 2004 Prof. Rustum Choksi award for Excellence in Research for Science
• 2002 VASVIK Award for Contribution to Environmental Sciences & Technology
• 2002 Swami Pranavananda Saraswathi Award for Environmental Sciences and Ecology
• 2003 Visiting Fellowship of the University of Pretoria, South Africa
• 2002-2022 Non-Resident Permanent Fellow, “Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin”, Germany
• since 2001 Elected Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences
• 2001-2002 Guest of the Rector, “Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin”, Germany
• 2000-2001 Schering-Fellow at the “Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin”, Germany
• 1999 Award of the Third World Academy of Sciences in Biology
• since 1998 Elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Entomology
• since 1995 Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India
• since 1993 Elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy
• 1993 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Biology
• 1992-1994 Homi Bhabha Fellowship
• 1991 B.M. Birla Science Award in Biology
• 1991 Professor T.N. Ananthakrishnan Prize
• since 1990 Elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences
• 1990 Saraswathi Narayanan-Prize for Biological Sciences
• 1987 Certificate of Appreciation, Lion‘s Club International, Bangalore, India
• 1985 Medal for Young Scientists, Indian National Science Academy
• 1984 Award for Young Scientists in Biological Sciences, Karnataka Association for the Advancement of Science
• 1984 Young Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences
• 1982 Dr. A. Krishna Murthy Award for the best publication, Society of Biological Chemists
• 1969 National science talent scholarship