Professor Rodrigo Ibata (1989) awarded Kavli Prize in Astrophysics

Please join us in congratulating Professor Rodrigo Ibata (1989), who has been awarded the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics.

The Kavli Prize honours recognises scientists whose discoveries change the way we understand the universe, matter, and the brain.

Professor Ibata provided the first clear observational proof that the Milky Way is still growing today with his discovery of the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy. His subsequent mapping of its vast tidal stream, and his groundbreaking work on the rich and asymmetric halo of the Andromeda galaxy, gave astronomers vivid, visual proof of how galaxies are surrounded by sprawling debris fields, evidence that galactic formation is an ongoing, dynamic process. He shared with us that part of the work highlighted in the prize announcement was in his Queens’ PhD thesis.

My years at Queens’ were among the most formative of my life. I have such fond memories of dinner in Hall (especially Old Hall) followed by wonderful discussions with friends about anything and everything until the small hours of the morning. And then waking up bleary-eyed and cycling through the mist to go work on the workings of the Milky Way and what it’s currently digesting. It was such an exciting time!

For more information about the Kavli Prize winners and their pioneering discoveries, visit kavliprize.org