Physics is full of captivating stories, from ongoing endeavours to explain the cosmos to ingenious innovations that shape the world around us. In the Physics World Stories podcast, Andrew Glester talks to the people behind some of the most intriguing and inspiring scientific stories. Listen to the podcast to hear from a diverse mix of scientists, engineers, artists and other commentators. Find out more about the stories in this podcast by visiting the Physics World website. If you enjoy what you hear, then also check out the Physics World Weekly podcast, a science-news podcast presented by our award-winning science journalists.
https://physicsworld.com/a/3-body-problem-a-deep-dive-into-the-netflix-show/
Cosmic generosity: a selfless investment in the future of physics
If you were awarded $3m prize money for your scientific excellence and hard graft, would you give it all away to strangers? That’s what the Northern Irish astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell did in 2018 after winning the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for her 1967 discovery of pulsars and her inspiring scientific leadership. She used the cash – topped up with more personal money from a separate prize – to launch the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund, which supports PhD students in the UK and Ireland from groups under-represented in physics.
In this episode of the Physics World Stories podcast, we look at the impacts the award is already having on the lives of early-career physicists. Our first guest is Helen Gleeson, a liquid crystals and soft matter researcher at the University of Leeds, who is chair of the selection panel for the fund. She talks about the importance of providing opportunities for physics students from non-traditional backgrounds, who may face multiple barriers – both personal and structural within the physics community.
https://youtu.be/EigAPYgJo0M
Later in the episode, we also hear from a fund awardee. Joanna Sakowska, a PhD student at the University of Surrey, is studying the formation and evolution of the Magellanic Clouds galaxies, while searching for neighbouring ultra-faint dwarf galaxies believed to contain large quantities of dark matter. Sakowska offers inspiring, practical advice to anyone interested in a career in physics, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on your personal achievements, even if self-promotion does not come naturally!
Want to know more about the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund and how to apply? Listen to the episode or read this recent Physics World article by Helen Gleeson.