Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell awarded Breakthrough Prize

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 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.”