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Dame Carole Jordan, DBE, FRS, FRAS, FInstP (born 19 July 1941) is a British physicist, astrophysicist, astronomer, and academic. She is widely recognized for her significant contributions to the field of astrophysics and her pioneering efforts as a woman in a male-dominated field.
Conny Clara Aerts, born in 1966 in Brasschaat, Belgium, is a Belgian professor in astrophysics. She is known for her expertise in asteroseismology, a field that studies the interior structure and dynamics of stars. Aerts has made significant contributions to understanding stellar evolution and has been recognized with prestigious awards for her groundbreaking research. She is also an advocate for gender equality in the sciences and actively promotes women’s participation in astronomy.
Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, a renowned astrophysicist from Northern Ireland, made a groundbreaking discovery in 1967 when she detected the first radio pulsars. Despite not being recognized with a Nobel Prize, her contributions to astrophysics have had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe. Bell Burnell’s commitment to promoting inclusivity in physics and her significant roles within scientific organizations solidify her position as a trailblazer.
Tamara Elizabeth “Tammy” Jernigan is an American astrophysicist and former NASA astronaut. She completed five Space Shuttle program missions and logged over 1512 hours in space. Jernigan left NASA in 2001 and currently holds a position at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Eleanor Margaret Burbidge, known as Margaret Burbidge, was a British-American observational astronomer and astrophysicist. She was born on August 12, 1919, in Davenport, England. Burbidge was one of the leading figures in astrophysics and made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe.
Jessie Christiansen, an astrophysicist from Australia, has made significant contributions to the field of exoplanet research. Currently working at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, her passion for uncovering the mysteries of the universe has made her highly respected in the scientific community. She is also known for her involvement in the NASA Kepler and upcoming TESS missions, as well as her commitment to public engagement and science communication. Christiansen’s groundbreaking research and dedication to the advancement of science have shaped our understanding of the universe.
Joanna Dunkley OBE is a British astrophysicist and Professor of Physics at Princeton University. She is renowned for her work on the origin of the Universe and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
Sandra Moore Faber is an American astrophysicist known for her research on the evolution of galaxies. She currently holds the position of University Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and works at the renowned Lick Observatory. Faber’s groundbreaking observations and discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of galaxies and their dynamics, making her a trailblazing figure in scientific history.
France Anne-Dominic Córdova is an American astrophysicist and administrator who has made significant contributions to the field of science.
Neta Bahcall, an Israeli astrophysicist and cosmologist, has made significant contributions to our understanding of dark matter, the structure of the universe, quasars, and the formation of galaxies. She has held various positions at Princeton University and is currently the Eugene Higgins Professor of Astronomy. Bahcall’s work with the Hubble Space Telescope in mapping galaxies and calculating the mass of the universe has been groundbreaking. She has received numerous accolades, including being elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Natalie M. Batalha, born in 1966, is a prominent figure in the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to the study of exoplanets and has played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe. Batalha’s work with NASA’s Kepler Mission, in particular, has revolutionized the way we perceive the existence of Earth-like planets beyond our solar system.
Marta Graciela Rovira, an Argentine astrophysics researcher, became the first woman to be named president of CONICET. With a deep passion for astronomy, Rovira focused her research on studying the Sun. Her tenure as president witnessed a significant increase in government funding for CONICET, leading to a doubling of the total number of individuals affiliated with the organization. Rovira has received recognition for her exceptional contributions to the field of astrophysics, including a special mention by the Konex Awards in 2008.
Christina “Chrissy” Richey is an American planetary scientist and astrophysicist known for her significant contributions to the field. Richey currently works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, where she serves as a project staff scientist for the Europa Clipper mission and a research technologist in the Astrophysics and Space Sciences Section.
Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dr. Mazlan binti Othman is a Malaysian astrophysicist who pioneered her country’s participation in space exploration. She was the first astrophysicist in Malaysia and contributed significantly to the field of astrophysics. Her work in creating a curriculum in astrophysics at the national university and promoting public awareness of astronomy and space issues has been instrumental in advancing Malaysia’s space program.
Catherine Heymans FRSE is a renowned British astrophysicist who has made significant contributions to the field of cosmology. She currently holds the esteemed title of Astronomer Royal for Scotland and serves as a professor at the University of Edinburgh, based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. Born and raised in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Heymans’ passion for astronomy was ignited at a young age.
Andrea Mia Ghez, born on June 16, 1965, in New York City, is an esteemed astrophysicist known for her groundbreaking work on the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Her research on the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, has deepened our understanding of black holes’ structure and behavior. Ghez’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades and recognition, including the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020. Her dedication and passion have inspired countless individuals, especially young women, to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Lisa Harvey-Smith (born 1979) is a British-Australian astrophysicist, Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, and a Professor of Practice in Science Communication at the University of NSW. Her research interests span a wide range of topics in astrophysics, including the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism, supernova remnants, the interstellar medium, massive star formation, and astrophysical masers.
Claudia Megan Urry, also known as Meg Urry, is a prominent American astrophysicist who has made notable contributions to the field of astronomy. She has served as the President of the American Astronomical Society, chaired the Department of Physics at Yale University, and has been recognized for her efforts to promote gender equality in science and academia. Urry’s passion for her research, dedication to addressing sexism, and numerous accomplishments have made her an influential figure in women’s history and a role model for scientists.
María Teresa Ruiz is a Chilean astronomer known for being the first woman to receive Chile’s National Prize for Exact Sciences and the first female recipient of a doctorate in astrophysics at Princeton University. She has made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics and has been dedicated to inspiring future generations of scientists.
Jedidah C. Isler is the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in astrophysics from Yale University. Her research focuses on the study of blazars and the jet streams they emit. Isler is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM fields and has made significant contributions to advancing representation in scientific research and education. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor of Astrophysics at Dartmouth College and was appointed as a member of Joe Biden’s presidential transition Agency Review Team for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2020.
Nia Imara, an American astrophysicist, artist, and activist, has made significant contributions to astrophysics and astronomy. Her journey began in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her passion for science and the universe flourished. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from Kenyon College and went on to become the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of California, Berkeley. Imara’s groundbreaking research has advanced our understanding of stellar nurseries and she continues to inspire through her activism and mentorship.