Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE is an astrophysicist. She was responsible for the discovery of pulsars while a radio astronomy graduate student in Cambridge and has subsequently worked in gamma ray, X-ray, infrared and millimetre wavelength astronomy. She currently holds a Professorial Fellowship in Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and is a Visiting Academic in the University's Department of Physics.
She was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize (2010) and a Royal Medal (2015) by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and also holds major awards from French, Spanish and USA bodies. A member of 7 Academies worldwide, she was the first female President of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ of Edinburgh (as well as of the Institute of Physics).
She is currently Chancellor of the University of Dundee and was previously a Pro Vice Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin. She holds numerous Honorary Doctorates.
Professional position
- Visiting Professor of Astrophysics, Department of Astrophysics, University of Oxford
- Pro Chancellor, Trinity College Dublin
Subject groups
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Astronomy and Physics
Astrophysics
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Other
Public understanding of science, Other interests, Science education at secondary level
Awards
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Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture
On 'The end of the world in 2012? Science communication and science scares'.
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Royal Medal
For her pivotal contribution in observing, analysing & understanding pulsars, one of the most important astronomical discoveries of the 20th century.
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Copley Medal
For her work on the discovery of pulsars, one of the major astronomical discoveries of the 20th century.