Professor Pratibha Gai is a pioneering British scientist and Professor at the University of York who revolutionised the field of electron microscopy. She invented a groundbreaking technique that allows scientists to observe individual atoms in chemical reactions in real time — something previously thought impossible.
Her invention of the atomic-resolution environmental transmission electron microscope opened up entirely new possibilities in materials science, chemistry and nanotechnology. It allows researchers to watch catalytic reactions happening at the atomic scale, transforming our ability to design new materials and understand chemical processes.
She was appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 2021 for her services to science. Born in India and educated at Oxford, she is a Fellow of the Royal Society and one of the most decorated scientists in Britain. Her work represents a landmark achievement in the history of scientific instrumentation.