1943-

English Astronomer

Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered pulsars when she was a graduate student. Despite this accomplishment, Burnell's professional life as an astrophysicist has been erratic. A researcher, teacher, and administrator, Burnell's most significant position has been as an astronomical observer who provided new information regarding the life cycle of stars. Her work on pulsars allowed other astronomers to comprehend previously unknown aspects of celestial physics. Burnell's research also benefitted male colleagues who won the Nobel Prize for pulsar-related achievements.

Born on July 15, 1943, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Burnell, the daughter of G. Philip and M. Allison Bell, became interested in science when her father took her to the Armagh Observatory. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1965, completing a doctorate in radio astronomy at Cambridge University three years later. Here, Burnell built a radio telescope for her graduate advisor, Anthony Hewish (1924- ), to...