Richard Horne is a physicist who has made major advances in the study of space weather - changes in the near-Earth space environment that disrupt modern technology and endanger human health.
Richard is distinguished for his work on wave-particle interactions in space, showing that plasma waves accelerate charged particles to very high energies and play a major role in the formation of the Earth’s radiation belts. Between 2011 and 2017 Richard led two EU projects to turn this basic research into a forecasting system that is now used by the European Space Agency, satellite operators and insurance underwriters to help protect satellites from radiation damage.
Richard was awarded the Gold Medal (G) from the Royal Astronomical Society in 2022, the Appleton Prize from the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) in 2020 and the International Kristian Birkeland Medal for Space Weather and Space Climate in 2020. He is Chair of the Space Environment Impacts Expert Group that provides advice to Government on space weather.
Professional position
- Head, Space Weather and Atmosphere, British Antarctic Survey
Subject groups
- Earth and environmental sciences
Ionospheric physics
- Other
Science policy
