Shweta Kulkarni
Shweta Kulkarni is an astronomer, entrepreneur, and pioneer of India's dark sky movement. She became CEO of the Astron SHK Trust at eighteen while pursuing her BSc in Astronomy. She now directs AstronEra, an organisation dedicated to dark sky preservation that operates in over one hundred and twenty countries, collaborating with DarkSky International and government institutions.
Her work has earned grants from India's Department of Science and Technology, Maharashtra's Tribal Development Department, and the International Astronomical Union. Notable recognitions include her 2018 selection among India's Top One Hundred Women Entrepreneurs, Fellowship of the Royal Astronomical Society, and the 2024 Dark Sky Defender Award Asia—making her the first Indian recipient.