$3m Breakthrough prize to support under represented groups in Physics

Former OU staff member and honorary graduate Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell will give away her $3m Breakthrough prize to support under represented groups in physics.

Professor Sally Jordan, Head of School of Physical Sciences quoted "I was thrilled and humbled to wake to the news this morning that former OU staff member and honorary graduate Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell will give away her $3m Breakthrough prize to support under represented groups in physics.  Jocelyn is a former Open University member of staff (indeed she worked for us in a wide variety of roles for over 25 years) and I remember her support when I was a relatively new member of the then Department of Physics.  She is also an OU honorary graduate.  The work she seeks to support is of vital importance, and links to my own work in the School of Physical Sciences Physics Education Research Group, researching the real (as opposed to speculated) reasons for demographic gaps in recruitment and attainment in physics."

To read the full article as published by The Guardian on Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, please see the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/06/jocelyn-bell-burnell-british-astrophysicist-overlooked-by-nobels-3m-award-pulsars