Michele Dougherty Becomes First Female Astronomer Royal

Michele Dougherty, a prominent space scientist from Imperial College London, has been appointed as the next Astronomer Royal. This historic appointment marks her as the first woman to hold the position, succeeding Martin Rees, the esteemed Cambridge University cosmologist who has served in this role for the past three decades.

The title of Astronomer Royal was established in 1675 with the founding of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, originally intended to assist King Charles II in maritime navigation. Since then, only 15 individuals have held this prestigious title, which now positions Dougherty as the official adviser to King Charles III on matters related to astronomy.

Dougherty will simultaneously continue her work at Imperial College and serve as the executive chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Additionally, she is set to assume the presidency of the Institute of Physics in October for a two-year term.

Her academic journey began with a PhD from the University of Natal in 1988. After joining Imperial College in 1991, she became the head of the physics department from 2018 until 2024. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to space exploration, notably as the principal investigator of the magnetometer on the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons. Currently, she oversees the magnetometer for the JUICE craft, which is en route to Jupiter to study its icy moons.

In recognition of her contributions to physical science research in the UK, Dougherty was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 New Year Honours. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society, having received the Hughes medal in 2008 for her research on Saturn’s moons. From 2014 to 2019, she held a Royal Society Research Professorship.

Dougherty expressed her excitement about her new role, stating, “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the important role of Astronomer Royal. As a young child, I never thought I’d end up working on planetary spacecraft missions and science, so I can’t quite believe I’m actually taking on this position. I look forward to engaging the general public in how exciting astronomy is, and how important it and its outcomes are to our everyday life.”

Tom Grinyer, the group chief executive officer of the Institute of Physics, extended his “warmest congratulations” to Dougherty. He emphasized her significance as an “inspirational ambassador for science” and a role model for young individuals who dream of pursuing careers in physics or astronomy.

As the first female Astronomer Royal, Michele Dougherty’s appointment represents a milestone in the field of astronomy, paving the way for future generations of women in science.