The European Astronomical Society has awarded the 2026 Tycho Brahe Medal to Professor Gillian Wright, former Director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, in recognition of her leadership in developing one of the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) most powerful scientific instruments.
Named after the 16th‑century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, a pioneer of precision astronomical measurements, the medal is one of Europe's highest honours in observational astrophysics. It is awarded annually to individuals who have made exceptional and internationally recognised contributions to the development of astronomical instrumentation or observational techniques. Recipients are selected by an international panel of leading scientists, making the medal a significant marker of global impact in the field.
Professor Wright is honoured for her pivotal role on JWST as European Principal Investigator for the Mid‑Infrared Instrument (MIRI). MIRI allows astronomers to explore the birth of stars and planets, probe distant galaxies and investigate the earliest eras of the Universe. She served on the JWST Science Working Group helping to set the scientific strategy of the mission and has been a prominent voice in public engagement around the mission's discoveries.
Alongside her leadership on MIRI, Professor Wright contributed to the European Space Agency's Herschel SPIRE instrument, served on the JWST Science Working Group and has been a prominent voice in public engagement around the mission's discoveries.
Professor Gillian 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."
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