Prof. Ashok Ambastha obtained his B. Sc. in 1972, M. Sc. in 1974 from Pt. Ravishankar University, Raipur, and was awarded his Ph. D. degree in 1981 on his research in galactic dynamics at the Physical Resarch Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad (India). Thereafter, he pursued post-doctoral research on plasmas trapped in magnetic mirrors. Prof. Ambastha joined Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO), PRL, Department of Space, Government of India, as a Research Associate in July 1983. He extensively contributed to the formulation and consolidation of USO's scientific programmes serving at various academic positions, superannuating as Senior Professor in 2014, but continues as Honorary Scientist. His research experience spans over 40 years in Plasma Physics, Galactic Astrophysics and Solar Physics. He has worked at the Solar Physics Group, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville (USA) during 1992-1994 as an NRC-Senior Resident Research Associate. He was a Councilor (1998-2001), and the Secretary (2004-2006) of the Astronomical Society of India (A.S.I.). He served as a Member of COSPAR-URSI-SCOSTEP committee of Indian National Science Academy, Delhi, during 2008-2012, and in the Editorial Board of "Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy", Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, during 2010-2016. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union, A.S.I., and the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad. Prof. Ambastha has led several total solar eclipse expeditions to many countries for studies of the structure and polarization of the solar corona. He has over 100 research publications in reputed national and international scientific journals, and has edited 4 books/proceedings.
