"To young women, I'd say: there is a place here for you in science - welcome."
Congratulations are in order for Professor Sandra Chapman (Physics) - she's the second-ever woman to have been awarded the Hannes Alfvén medal, thanks to her pioneering work in advancing our understanding of space plasma physics in the solar system and beyond.
The Internal Comms team caught up with Sandra to find out more about this incredible achievement.
Sandra, you're a pioneer in the field of plasma physics - but not everybody knows quite what that is! Can you explain?
Sandra: "Plasma is our fourth state of matter - think solid, liquid, gas, plasma. It's a gas that's so hot that there's enough energy to break up its molecules into their constituent parts (ions and electrons), which have electrical charge.
Because of these electrically-charged particles, plasmas can be influenced by electrostatic and electromagnetic fields and forces, which can lead to some very complex and interesting behaviour! Plasma eruptions from the sun can even affect our power grids and satellites.
When you're looking at a candle flame, that's a plasma here on Earth. You might also have seen images of the northern or southern lights - same thing. Most of the universe, outside of planetary atmospheres, is made up of plasma.
I'm a Director in Warwick's Centre for Fusion Space and Astrophysics (CFSA). The Centre has a strong record of joint work with the UK fusion research programmes, as well as extensive engagement with space plasma and solar physics missions."
Above: Sandra accepts her medal at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (16 April)
Being awarded the 2024 Hannes Alfvén Medal is a huge achievement. Tell us about the medal's history...
Sandra: "Hannes Alfvén made many contributions to plasma physics. He predicted that the forces between charged particles and magnetic fields in a plasma would give a new kind of wave propagation - known as Alfvén waves.
The Hannes Alfvén Medal is presented for outstanding scientific contributions towards the understanding of plasma processes in the solar system. It's awarded by the European Geosciences Union (EGU), which is one of the three international scientific societies for the geosciences - the other societies are in America and Asia."
What does it mean to you to be awarded the medal?
Sandra: "It's quite an honour - looking at the previous recipients, I am walking in some big footsteps!
It's also great to be an ambassador for Warwick internationally and help to build up its international profile."
Do you have any words of wisdom for girls and young women considering a career in astrophysics?
Sandra: "I know the previous female recipient, Margie Kivelson, very well. When I was a young graduate student attending my first international meetings, she would be there - the only other woman. She was always really supportive and it was so important for me to see a more senior woman active in the field.
Now, it seems I am the more senior woman (how did that happen!) and I am pleased to say there are now many women in the field, at all levels, doing some really great science. So I would say: there is a place here for you in science - welcome."
Bonus question! What's your favourite thing about working at Warwick?
Sandra: "The freedom to do new things. When I joined the academic staff in Physics there was no space physics, astrophysics or astronomy. So I started up Plasma Space and Astrophysics and after a few years we grew it into a centre for fusion, space and astrophysics, tackling everything from solar physics to space weather to fusion energy."