About Dirac Medal:
- It was first awarded in 1985.
- It is given in honor of P.A.M. Dirac, one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century.
- It is awarded annually on Dirac's birthday, August 8, to scientists who have made significant contributions to theoretical physics.
- It is awarded by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).
- Selection Process: An international committee of distinguished scientists selects the winners from a list of nominated candidates.
- The Dirac Medal is not awarded to Nobel Laureates, Fields Medallists, or Wolf Foundation Prize winners, although several past Dirac medallists later went on to receive those honours.
- Cash Prize: The Medalist also receives a prize of US $5,000.
- Deepak Dhar is also the second Indian winner of the Dirac Medal; the first was string theorist Ashoke Sen.
- Dhar is known for his work on a concept called Abelian sandpiles.
What is International Centre for Theoretical Physics?
- It is an international research institute for physical and mathematical sciences.
- The centre was founded in 1964.
- It operates under a tripartite agreement between the Italian Government, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- ICTP is a UNESCO Category 1 Institute.
- It is located in Trieste, Italy.
