The leading cosmologist Prof. Alexei Starobinsky passed away on December 21, 2023. His groundbreaking work on cosmological inflation, modified theories of gravity, dark energy, and particle creation in the early universe has earned him world recognition. In terms of theory and evidence, Starobinsky inflation is currently the most accurate model. Starobinsky was awarded the Tomalla Prize in 2009, the Oskar Klein Medal in 2010, the Amaldi Medal in 2012, and the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2013 for his exceptional contributions to cosmology. In 2014, the Norwegian Academy of Science granted Starobinsky the Kavli Prize. He was awarded the prestigious Dirac Medal by ICTP in 2019.

Prof. Starobinsky was a strong proponent of the BRICS colleague's scientific potential. Colleagues from the BRICS countries looked up to him as an inspiration. The BRICS Association for Gravity, Astrophysics, and Cosmology, or BRICS-AGAC, was founded in 2016 thanks to his generous assistance. Since its founding, the group has been instrumental in providing a forum for specialists from various countries to convene, fostering active collaboration among cosmologists, relativists, and astrophysics professionals. Prof Starobinsky was a visiting professor of CCSP and was a great supporter of our research initiatives. To pay homage to the renowned scientist, CCSP has instituted the Starobinsky Memorial Lecture as an annual activity.

The first Starobinsky Memorial Lecture Series will be held on 18th December at CCSP, SGT University during the 4th BRICS-AGAC 2024 Conference.