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Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell awarded Breakthrough Prize

06 September 2018

Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell has been awarded a Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for her work on the discovery of Radio Pulsars. The award also recognises her scientific leadership.

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE FRS

Dame Jocelyn will donate winnings from the $3 million prize to the Institute of Physics for the running of graduate studentships for people from under-represented groups in physics research.

Responding to the announcement, Richard Catlow, Vice-President of the Royal Society said:

“Jocelyn Bell-Burnell’s work on the discovery of Pulsars really did contribute to a major breakthrough in our understanding of the universe.  Her generous decision to donate the prize money to bringing more women, under-represented ethnic minorities and refugees into the world of physics, can hopefully help to increase the flow of breakthrough moments in the future.”

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