One of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century was made by this eminent astrophysicist, while she was still a postgraduate student.

Born in Belfast in 1943, Jocelyn Bell grew up in Lurgan and discovered a love of mathematics and science at a very young age. However, much to her frustration, at school these interests were not considered suitable for girls. 

After failing her 11-plus exam, Jocelyn moved to a boarding school in York, where she flourished. After school she enrolled at Glasgow University, graduating in Natural Philosophy in 1965 – the only woman alongside 49 men. She then went to Cambridge, where she was awarded her PhD.

Rinne an réaltfhisiceoir iomráiteach seo ceann de na fionnachtana eolaíocha is mó sa 20ú haois nuair a bhí sí go fóill ina hiarchéimí.

Rugadh Jocelyn Bell i mBéal Feirste sa bhliain 1943, d’fhás sí aníos ar an Lorgain agus fuair sí amach ó aois óg go raibh an-suim aici sa mhatamaitic agus san eolaíocht. Nuair a bhí sí ar scoil, áfach, níor measadh go raibh na hábhair seo fóirsteanach do na girseacha, rud a chuir as dí. 

Theip uirthi sa teist aistrithe, agus ina dhiaidh sin bhog Jocelyn go scoil chónaithe in Eabhrac, agus is ansin a bhí rath uirthi. I ndiaidh dí imeacht ón scoil, chláraigh sí in Ollscoil Ghlaschú, áit ar bhain sí céim amach san Fhealsúnacht Nádúrtha in 1965 - an t-aon bhean a rinne sin in éineacht 49 fear. Chuaigh sí ansin go Cambridge, áit ar bhain sí a PhD amach. 

As a postgraduate student, Jocelyn Bell began studying with astronomers Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle. While reviewing data from a radio telescope, she noticed a signal that was pulsing with great regularity. This was identified as a rapidly rotating neutron star – or pulsar. 

The discovery led to a Nobel Prize for both her male supervisors but not for her. She put this down to the fact that she was female and still a postgraduate student at the time. 

Jocelyn Bell Burnell went on to do important work in the field and hold distinguished positions at universities and institutions around the world. 

Throughout her working life, Dame Jocelyn always encouraged girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and was equally passionate about improving diversity within science. 

In 2018 Jocelyn Bell Burnell was awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for her contributions to science. The award came with a prize fund of £2.3m, which she donated to the Institute of Physics “to fund women, under-represented ethnic minorities and refugee students to become physics researchers”. 

Locally, in 2022, her unique role in highlighting Northern Irish women in science was recognised by Ulster Bank when Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s discovery of pulsars was featured on their science-themed £50 note.

Mar iarchéimí, thosaigh Jocelyn Bell ag déanamh stáidéir leis na réalteolaithe Hewish agus Martin Ryle. Nuair a bhí sí ag amharc ar shonraí ó radaiteileascóp, thug sí fá deara go raibh comhartha ag preabadh go han-rialta. Fuarthas amach gur réalta néaróin rothlach ghasta a bhí inti - nó pulsár.

Dá bharr seo, fuair an bheirt fhear a bhí mar stiúrthóirí aici an Duais Nobel, ach ní bhfuair sí féin í. Cheap sí nach bhfuair sí an duais ó tharla gur bhean í agus go raibh sí go fóill ina hiarchéimí ag an am. 

Chuaigh Jocelyn Bell Burnell ar aghaidh le obair thábhachtach a dhéanamh sa réimse agus bhí poist shuntasacha aici in ollscoileanna agus institiúidí ar fud an domhain. 

Le linn a saoil oibre, spreag Dame Jocelyn girseacha óga dul leis an Eolaíocht, Teicneolaíocht, Innealtóireacht agus Matamaitic (ETIM) mar ghairm, agus d’oibrigh sí go diongbháilte leis an éagsúlacht a fheabhsú i réimse na heolaíochta.

Sa bhliain 2018, bronnadh an Duais Fionnachtana san Fhisic Bhunúsach Jocelyn Bell Burnell as an obair a rinne sí i réimse na heolaíochta. Mar chuid den duais, fuair sí duaischiste £2.3m, agus dheonaigh sí sin d’Institiúid na fisice “to fund women, under-represented ethnic minorities and refugee students to become physics researchers”. 

Go háitiúil, sa bhliain 2022, thug Banc Uladh aitheantas don ról ar leith a bhí aici in aird a tharraingt ar mhná Thuaisceart Éirinn i réimse na heolaíochta nuair a chuir siad fionnachtain na bpulsár ó Jocelyn Bell Burnell ar a nótaí £50 - a raibh an eolaíocht mar théama orthu.