INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT

August's episode of The Sky at Night celebrates the work of Jocelyn Bell Burnell. George Dransfield explains why this pulsar pioneer is such a hero to her

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I had one answer, every time: Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Whenever Amaury Triaud, my PhD supervisor, asked for speaker suggestions for our weekly seminars, hers was the name I suggested. Again and again. He'd patiently remind me that it might be tough to get her in, seeing as she's a living legend and all, but still I asked.

Finally, in October 2021, the day came when he told me that Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell would be coming to Birmingham and doing a meet and greet. “But there's a catch,” he said. “The only slot she can do is in February.”

“This coming February?”

“That's right. If you want to attend the talk and meet Jocelyn, you will have to cancel your trip to Antarctica.”