While her research may have focused exclusively on the stars, Professor Vicky Kaspi鈥檚 work has most certainly been getting attention here on Earth. Indeed, the Royal Society of the United Kingdom 鈥� one of the world鈥檚 most recognized scientific organizations 鈥� today announced that she is the recipient of the聽. Awarded since 1775 for outstanding research in the physical sciences, the Bakerian Medal is one of the premier honours of the Royal Society.
In earning this year鈥檚 medal,聽聽joins such illustrious 平特五不中 luminaries as Ernest Rutherford and John William Dawson, as well as other renowned scientists like Michael Faraday. The award committee selected Kaspi for her research on neutron stars and their utility for constraining basic physics, recognition of her over 25 years of research on radio pulsars and magnetars. Her work on Fast Radio Bursts 鈥� frequent bursts of radio waves originating from outside the Milky Way 鈥� was also cited in their decision.
鈥淚 am tremendously honoured to have been selected for the Bakerian Medal and Lecture by the Royal Society of London,鈥� said Kaspi. 鈥淚 have greatly enjoyed my research career thus far, both studying the astonishing objects our Universe has created, and also sharing discoveries with so many brilliant and hard-working students and postdocs. A recognition like this is icing on the cake.鈥�
The incredibly dense remains of collapsed stars are known as neutron stars, and among these are certain types that emit regular bursts of radiation 鈥� pulsars. Studying these relatively small stellar objects is valuable as they almost act as cosmic lighthouses that offer consistent and stable activity that can be used to test, among other things, Einstein鈥檚 Theory of General Relativity. Kaspi鈥檚 work has been instrumental in identifying and understanding the physical forces that govern these fascinating objects, with particular attention to the most highly magnetized members of the neutron-star population, 鈥渕agnetars.鈥�
Winning the Bakerian Medal is far from the first time Kaspi has won a major award. Her list of accomplishments is extensive, and includes the following honours: the聽, Fellow of the Royal Society, member of the聽, the聽, the聽, and being named聽, in addition to many other accolades. Most recently, Kaspi and her colleagues on the聽聽Radio Telescope聽team聽won a聽.
Under Kaspi鈥檚 watchful eye, stargazing has been elevated to ever-greater heights, and paves the way for even more breathtaking discoveries in the future.
Read the聽聽announcing the 25 Royal Society medals and awards winners.