Michele Dougherty Appointed First Female Astronomer Royal

Michele Dougherty, a prominent space scientist from Imperial College London, has been appointed as the next Astronomer Royal, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this prestigious position. She succeeds Martin Rees, the esteemed cosmologist from Cambridge University, who served for three decades. This title, which dates back to the establishment of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in 1675, originally involved advising King Charles II on celestial navigation.

In her new role, Dougherty will serve as the official adviser to King Charles III on astronomical matters while continuing her work at Imperial College and as the executive chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Additionally, she will begin her term as the next president of the Institute of Physics in October, a role that will last for two years.

Dougherty earned her PhD in 1988 from the University of Natal in South Africa and joined Imperial College in 1991. She has held various leadership positions, including head of the physics department from 2018 until 2024. As a principal investigator, she contributed to significant missions such as the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and is currently overseeing the magnetometer for the JUICE craft, which is en route to explore Jupiter’s icy moons.

Dougherty’s contributions to physical science were recognized when she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 New Year Honours for her services to research. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society, receiving the Hughes medal in 2008 for her groundbreaking work on Saturn’s moons and holding a Royal Society Research Professorship from 2014 to 2019.

“I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the important role of Astronomer Royal,” Dougherty stated. “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, CEO of the Institute of Physics, expressed his congratulations, stating that 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 not only highlights her significant achievements in the field of astronomy but also represents a broader shift towards inclusivity and diversity within the scientific community. Her leadership is expected to inspire future generations of scientists and foster a greater public interest in astronomy.