Jocelyn Bell Burnell: The Unsung Hero of Astronomy's Breakthrough
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Chapter 1: The Historical Context of Gender Bias
History often reflects societal structures that persist over time. The idea that lower classes perform menial tasks while the elite benefit is not new and dates back to ancient civilizations. Similarly, stereotypes about women have lingered, often labeling them harshly for achievements, while men were celebrated. Until the 1900s, many dismissed the potential contributions of women, and when Jocelyn Bell made significant strides in astronomy, she was deemed "unworthy" of recognition, as her male counterparts claimed the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking work.
Section 1.1: Jocelyn Bell's Early Life
Born in 1943 in Northern Ireland, Jocelyn grew up in an environment influenced by her father's role as an architect at the Armagh Observatory. The societal pressure around her became evident when her brother was born.
“I remember when my brother was born, people would say, ‘Isn’t it great that Mrs. Bell has a boy now?’ As a small child, I found that difficult.” — Jocelyn Bell
Despite enjoying her time in high school, Jocelyn faced gender segregation when her teacher directed boys to the science lab and girls to the kitchen. Determined to change this, she advocated for equality, eventually leading to three girls, including herself, participating in the science class.
Jocelyn's passion for astronomy was ignited by Fred Hoyle's book, "Frontiers of Astronomy," solidifying her ambition to become an astronomer despite the lack of female role models.
“I knew I wanted to be an astronomer. But at that stage, there weren’t any women role models that I knew of.” — Jocelyn Bell
Subsection 1.1.1: Overcoming Challenges in Academia
Jocelyn's journey took her to the University of Glasgow, where she was often the only female among fifty peers.
“I ended up being the only female in a class of fifty. And it was the tradition that when a woman entered the lecture theater, all the guys whistled, cat-called, and banged their desks. I had to face this on my own.” — Jocelyn Bell
Her admission to the University of Cambridge was a turning point, although she initially struggled with feelings of inadequacy. She resolved to work diligently to prove herself.
Her first research project on quasars, funded by Tony Hewish, involved constructing a radio telescope operated primarily by her.
“The array rotated with the earth, scanning continuously, night and day across the sky, and it was to be operated full time by one person, a girl. A graduate student who’d helped to build it, Jocelyn Bell.” — Tony Hewish
Section 1.2: The Pioneering Discovery
While analyzing data from the telescope, Jocelyn detected unusual signals, which she suspected were not mere interference. However, Tony initially dismissed her observations.
Jocelyn persisted in reporting these signals, and ultimately, Tony witnessed the pulses firsthand. This led to the realization that they had discovered two pulsars.
Tony presented the findings at a colloquium in Cambridge, attended by renowned astronomer Fred Hoyle, who initially speculated on the nature of the signals.
“This cosmic anarchist is the most controversial of theorists. This is the first I’ve heard of these things. I think it’s a supernova remnant.” — Fred Hoyle
After a lengthy discussion, Hoyle provided an explanation that was later validated, generating immense media interest in pulsars. However, the press coverage often sidelined Jocelyn, focusing instead on her personal life rather than her scientific achievements.
Chapter 2: The Press and Public Perception
In interviews, Jocelyn faced trivial questions about her personal life, rather than discussions of her scientific contributions.
“The photographers were the worst. They wanted me to undo some buttons on my blouse. The popular press were certainly putting me in the little girl sexually attractive role. I barely rated as a scientist.” — Jocelyn Bell
Despite her significant contributions, even after moving on from Cambridge, people often congratulated her on her marriage, neglecting her groundbreaking work.
In 1974, when the Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of pulsars, it was jointly given to Martin Ryle and Tony Hewish, while Jocelyn was overlooked.
“Fred Hoyle was quite furious for me. I think the fact that I was a graduate student and a woman together demoted my standing in terms of receiving a Nobel Prize. It didn’t bother me. I was actually pleased. I was really pleased that pulsars were considered important enough to rate a Nobel Prize.” — Jocelyn Bell
Jocelyn Bell's pioneering role in discovering pulsars was overshadowed by societal biases, yet her work transformed our understanding of the universe.