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Jocelyn Bell Burnell

15 July 1943 – present

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell is a British astrophysicist who, as a postgraduate student in 1967, discovered the first radio pulsars. Her observations opened a new field of astronomy, and she has since become a prominent advocate for women in science.

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Life events

Born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland
15 July 1943

Susan Jocelyn Bell was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Graduated in physics from the University of Glasgow
1965

She earned her bachelor's degree in natural philosophy (physics) from the University of Glasgow.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Discovered the first radio pulsars
November 1967

As a PhD student at Cambridge under Antony Hewish, she detected the regular radio signals that were identified as rapidly rotating neutron stars.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Earned PhD from the University of Cambridge
1969

She completed her doctorate in radio astronomy at the University of Cambridge.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became professor of physics at the Open University
1991

She held a professorship at the Open University, where she worked for many years.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Served as President of the Royal Astronomical Society
2002 – 2004

She was elected President of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2007

She was made a Dame for her services to astronomy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
2018

She received the prize for her discovery of pulsars and donated the multi-million-dollar award to support underrepresented physics students.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓