Michele Dougherty Appointed First Female Astronomer Royal

Michele Dougherty, a distinguished space scientist from Imperial College London, has been appointed the next Astronomer Royal, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this prestigious position. Dougherty will succeed Martin Rees, a renowned cosmologist from Cambridge University, who has served in the role for an impressive thirty years.

The title of Astronomer Royal has its origins in the establishment of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in 1675. Initially, the role involved advising King Charles II on celestial navigation techniques to enhance maritime exploration. Since John Flamsteed became the first Astronomer Royal, a total of 15 individuals have held this esteemed title.

New Responsibilities and Ongoing Roles

As Astronomer Royal, Dougherty will act as the official advisor to King Charles III on matters related to astronomy. She will maintain her existing roles, which include serving as the executive chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and assuming the presidency of the Institute of Physics in October for a two-year term.

Dougherty earned her PhD in 1988 from the University of Natal in South Africa. After joining Imperial College in 1991, she served as head of physics from 2018 until 2024. Her research contributions are significant; she was the principal investigator for the magnetometer on the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and is currently leading efforts for the magnetometer on the JUICE spacecraft, which is en route to Jupiter to study its icy moons.

In recognition of her contributions to physical science, Dougherty was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 New Year Honours. She has also been a fellow of the Royal Society and received its Hughes medal in 2008 for her pioneering work on Saturn’s moons.

Commitment to Public Engagement

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Dougherty stated, “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 Institute of Physics group chief executive officer, congratulated Dougherty on her historic appointment. He remarked, “As incoming President of the IOP and the first woman to hold this historic role [of Astronomer Royal], Dougherty is an inspirational ambassador for science and a role model for every young person who has gazed up at the stars and imagined a future in physics or astronomy.”

Dougherty’s appointment as Astronomer Royal not only signifies a step forward for gender representation in science but also highlights her commitment to advancing public understanding of astronomy in the years to come.