Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is known for academic brilliance, but Professor Arpita Patra from the Department of Computer Science and Automation is scaling a different kind of height—literally. The 41-year-old academic has already climbed four of the world’s seven highest volcanic peaks and is now determined to complete the remaining three by 2026. Her mission puts her in a rare league of mountaineers and symbolizes the growing spirit of exploration among scholars and professionals alike.

Patra’s latest success came on October 24, 2025, when she summited Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltépetl), North America’s highest volcanic peak at 5,636 metres. The climb was anything but ordinary—she became the second Indian woman and the first Bengali woman ever to achieve this feat. The demanding ascent involved a steep 45-degree gradient up the Jamapa Glacier on the mountain’s northern face, with an elevation gain of nearly 1,450 metres from the base camp. Describing the climb, Patra called Pico de Orizaba her most technically challenging ascent to date, involving ice travel, freezing winds, and long hours on sharp, glacial terrain.

Her mountaineering journey began modestly after she joined IISc in 2014. Balancing teaching and research, she trained independently and joined professional trekking companies abroad for logistical support. She also completed a 21-day basic mountaineering course at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) to build crucial endurance and survival skills. “While my work keeps me deeply engaged, the mountains offered me a new dimension of self-discovery and resilience,” she remarked.

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Over the past two years, Patra has conquered four volcanic summits across four continents: Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Africa in July 2024, Elbrus (5,642 m) in Europe in August 2024, Giluwe (4,367 m) in Oceania in May 2025, and now Pico de Orizaba in North America. She was also the first Indian woman to summit Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak in Papua New Guinea, and recently finished the Ladakh Half Marathon at an altitude of 3,500 metres—a testament to her extraordinary stamina.

Looking ahead, Patra aims to scale Mount Sidley in Antarctica and Mount Damavand in Iran, among the highest volcanic summits left on her list. She hopes to complete all seven by the end of 2026, joining an elite global cadre of mountaineers who have achieved the “Volcanic Seven Summits” challenge. As she continues to inspire her colleagues and students, Arpita Patra proves that academic excellence and boundless adventure can indeed go hand in hand.

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