Edinburgh scientist who worked on James Webb Space Telescope wins prestigious annual prize
An Edinburgh scientist who was a key part of the development of the James Webb Space Telescope has been awarded a major honour for her work on the project.
Professor Gillian Wright, who was the director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh from 2012 until 2024, has been awarded the 2026 Tycho Brahe Medal.
Named after the 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, the annual award recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the world of astronomy.
It is considered to be one of the highest European honours in observational astrophysics and is awarded by a panel of leading scientists.
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Professor Wright served as European Principal Investigator for the Mid‑Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched in 2021.
The MIRI allows astronomers to explore the birth and age of stars, investigate the birth of the universe and observe distant galaxies.
She also served on the James Webb Space Telescope Working Group and helped to set the scientific strategy of the mission, as well as being a prominent member of the team for public engagement.
Speaking about her award win, Professor Wright said: “It is a tremendous honour to have my contributions recognised by the award of the Tycho Brahe Medal.
“In my career I have benefitted enormously from working internationally with fantastic collaborators in the MIRI team, as well as locally with the excellent staff at the UK ATC.
“I’m thrilled with the scientific success of JWST and that together we are advancing our understanding of the Universe through innovative instrumentation.”
Professor Wright’s impressive career has also seen her contribute to the European Space Agency’s Herschel SPIRE instrument, as well as previously serving as staff scientist and later head of instrumentation at the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) in Hawaii.
She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and is a visiting professor at University of Edinburgh's Institute for Astronomy.
Professor Wright began her studies at the University of Glasgow before completing her PhD at Imperial College London, where she specialised in infrared studies of interacting galaxies.
In 2006, she became an MBE for her services to science and was awarded a second honour in 2023, this time a CBE for services to astronomy through international missions.