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Cosmologist shortlisted for L'Oreal Women in Science Award
Thu, Jun 25, 2009
Dr Karen Masters from the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) is one of only eight finalists to be shortlisted for the L’Oreal Women in Science awards.
Each year four fellowships worth £15,000 are awarded to outstanding women scientists in the early stages of their career enabling them to continue their promising scientific research.
Karen, a Senior Research Associate, was short listed for her research into understanding the role of galaxies in our universe.
She said: “I’m extremely proud to be short listed and to represent women in science. We turn young women off science at a young age when we should be encouraging them and demonstrating that careers in science are rewarding and exciting.
“Astronomy spoke to me at an early age and I was encouraged to pursue it, leading me into a fulfilling career in an area I’m passionate about. The ICG is one of the best places in the world for me to further my research.”
All the candidates for the awards are female postdoctoral researchers working in a Centre of Excellence. Their applications have been judged on a range of criteria including intellectual merit, scholarly scientific study, scientific excellence, originality and the ability to interpret and communicate their research findings. They must also demonstrate how the Fellowship will enhance their career.
The eight short listed candidates will attend an interview at the Royal Institution in London on 1 July where they will present their research to a judging panel which includes Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, Director of the Royal Institution and Professor Alec Boksenberg CBE, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO. The four winners will be announced at a ceremony on the same evening.
The prize money will be spent enabling their research careers and can be used to buy equipment, fund travel costs to an overseas conference and even pay for childcare.
Winning the award would allow Karen to extend her period of study at the University of Portsmouth and continue delving into the mysteries of how galaxies form and the curious `dark matter' and ‘dark energy’ which together make up 95 per cent of the universe.
She said: “Recent observations seem to show that galaxies are moving faster than our current models predict, suggesting that gravity might be stronger than we think on cosmological scales. I work on state-of-the-art surveys and models of galaxy motions to test different concepts.
“There are still huge gaps in our knowledge. One of humanity's fundamental questions is "why are we here?" My research addresses question with a view to understanding our place in the Cosmos.”
Professor Bob Nichol of the University’s ICG said that awards like the Women in Science fellowship are exactly what science needs because most scientists are at their most productive as they enter the post doctoral stage of their career.
He said: “Society still has an archaic image of scientists but astronomy is one area in which more female researchers are emerging and I’m delighted that Karen has been short listed for the award.”