Women Scientists

Jocelyn Bell Burnell 1943-

At a glance:

astrophysicist who discovered radiopulsars

Bell Burnell was born in Belfast near the Armargh Observatory where she spent much time as a child. After a physics degree, she went to Cambridge. It was in 1967, when she was a research student aged 24, that she discovered the first pulsar. With her supervisor, Anthony Hewish and others she had spent the first two years at Cambridge building a radiotelescope designed to record rapid variations in signal from within the Crab Nebula. She noticed one signal which was a rapid set of pulses every 1.337 sec. Temporarily dubbed LGM 1 (as in Little Green Men), Bell Burnell soon discovered three others leading to the realisation that they were being emitted by a special kind of star - a rotating neutron star called a pulsar . Bell Burnell's name was second on the paper that was subquently published but it was Hewish and others who received the Nobel Prize not Bell Burnell. She has always made light of this controversial decision saying that 'students don't win Nobel prizes' and 'an award to me would have debased the prize'. Her subsequent career in which she worked on infrared and optical astronomy has been a distinguished one and she has been a notable force in encouraging women into science. Her Quaker faith has been an important part of her life.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell

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Comments

Here is what people are saying about Jocelyn Bell Burnell:

from Pat McNeill (7:58 28/02/2009)
A brilliant, humble woman that has given so much to science, and the advancement of young girls and women. She is 66 yrs old right now and still is traveling the world giving free, public lectures. It's time to name something in space in her name to honor her.

from Tony Connell (19:40 03/07/2008)
Jocelyn Bell Burnell deserved to win the Nobel Prize for her discovery of pulsars and also for the influence she has had on encouraging other women to study physics.

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