Department:
Cavendish Laboratory
Biography:
Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s discovery of pulsars (rapidly-spinning neutron stars) is one of the most iconic moments of 20th century astronomy. Dame Jocelyn has become a role model and inspiration for female scientists around the world. In 2018, she was awarded a £2.3m Breakthrough Prize, a prize she donated in its entirety to encourage women from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds, as well as refugee students, to become physics researchers. Dame Jocelyn attended New Hall (Murray Edwards) and was awarded her Cambridge PhD in 1969.
Date of Birth/Death:
1943