Else Starkenburg receives Pastoor Schmeit Prize for astronomy

Prof. Else Starkenburg of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (RUG) has been awarded the Pastoor Schmeit Prize for her pioneering research in the field of galactic archaeology. She investigates the early history of galaxies using the oldest generations of stars, which are extremely rare and hard to find. She received the prize on May 28, during the 80th Dutch Astronomers Conference in Berg en Dal. 

Attached to the prize-which is awarded once every three years to one or two astronomers-is a cash prize of EUR 1,500. Prof. Yamila Miguel (Sterrewacht Leiden, Leiden University, and SRON) also received the prize.

Unique method

Starkenburg developed a unique method to detect the oldest generations of stars and set up the Pristine Survey, which is exceptionally successful and efficient in finding extremely metal-poor stars. These stars are crucial for modeling the formation of the Milky Way and the Local Group, which she performs in an industry-leading manner, the jury said.

About the Prize

The board of the Pastoor Schmeits Prize Foundation decides on the award on the basis of nominations from the Dutch astronomical community. The (Dutch) prize is awarded to astronomers under the age of 40 (or who have not obtained the PhD more than 12 years ago), who have made a scientific contribution of exceptional importance in the previous five years. The next award ceremony will take place in 2028. 

Starkenburg received her PhD Cum Laude in December 2011 on the topic “Galactic Archaeology in and around the Milky Way. She has been working at the Kapteyn Institute of the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the RUG since 2020.