Olivia Tindle from Sheffield Hallam University is one of nine talented students to receive a Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship from the Institute of Physics (IOP)

Press contact: Emma Griffiths | e.griffiths@shu.ac.uk

Olivia Tindle from Sheffield Hallam University is one of nine talented students to receive a Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship from the Institute of Physics (IOP).  

The scholarship will fund Olivia’s PhD research in nuclear data, which underpins studies into nuclear technology and astrophysics and helps scientists to answer questions about the beginnings of our universe. 

Set up by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell to encourage diversity in physics, the scholarship supports talented students from under-represented groups to study PhD physics. 

On receiving the award, Olivia said: “I was overwhelmed with happiness when I found out I had received the award, it felt like reassurance that I do belong in physics and that I am capable despite my differences.  

“Before university I had not really considered which branch of physics to pursue. My placement year at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is really what drove me to continue nuclear physics. Seeing the endless applications of the field and getting to experience research first hand was invaluable and I knew at that point that I had to learn more. 

“Knowing that thanks to the scholarship I can pursue what I love, in a department that supports me and without the fear of judgement is a weight lifted and something which I am eternally thankful for.” 

Dame Jocelyn was awarded the 2019 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. The Breakthrough Prize award included £2.3m, which she donated to the IOP to help counter what she described as ‘the unconscious bias that still exists in physics research’.  

According to HESA data, in 2019/20 just 25% of physics undergraduate students were female. This has increased from 22% in 2010/11, but still does not reflect the proportion of the population who are female. 

Rachel Youngman, Deputy Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, said: “This year I am delighted we are supporting nine well deserving students to further their studies and build their careers in physics.  

“We need physicists to rise to the economic challenge of building a zero-carbon economy and the more diverse we can make our pool of physics researchers and innovators the stronger and more creative it will be. 

“The fund set up by Dame Jocelyn is already helping to achieve this. To date, it has enabled 21 students to embark upon a physics PhD, helping them to start their journey to a rewarding and exciting career."