“Go be stars!” Jocelyn Bell Burnell inspires future physicists at 25th Bolton Lecture

The University of Leeds celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Bolton Lecture in Astronomy – and this year’s event was led by world-renowned astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Dame Jocelyn, who is celebrated for her groundbreaking discovery of the first radio pulsars in 1967, shared her journey as a pioneer in the field – one that resonates deeply, especially with students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in physics and astronomy. As the discoverer of one of the 20th century’s most significant astronomical phenomena, she remains a source of inspiration for aspiring physicists worldwide. 

Beyond her academic achievements, Dame Jocelyn is a champion for increasing diversity in physics. In 2018, she donated her £2.3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics to establish the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund aimed at countering “the unconscious bias that still exists in physics research”. 

Administered by the Institute of Physics, this scholarship fund has supported 37 postgraduate research students since 2020, specifically underrepresented groups in the physics research community, including women, people with refugee status, ethnic minorities, and financially disadvantaged students. Two of these have come from the University of Leeds, including Karolina Szewczyk, who secured the prestigious grant in June 2023. 

L-R: Dame Jocelyn, Professor Helen Gleeson - Cavendish Professor of Physics, who chairs the selection committee for this scholarship fund - and Karolina Szewczyk. (Credit: Skywall Photography)

The lecture, hosted by the School of Physics and Astronomy, welcomed an audience of 500 people, including 250 school students from Greater Manchester, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds. 

The Bolton Lecture was established in 1999 in honour of Scriven Bolton and aims to inspire future generations by connecting students with luminaries in science, and offers school students a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas and meet influential figures. The event underscores Leeds’ commitment to widening participation in higher education and fostering a passion for science in young people through its STEM Outreach Team.

Further information

• For media enquiries, email Faculty Communications Manager Matt Gardner via M.D.Gardner@leeds.ac.uk.
• Lead image credit: Skywall Photography.