Professor Gillian Wright CBE, who recently retired as Director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and Head of Site at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, has been awarded the prestigious Baird of Bute Innovation Award. Recognising her exceptional contributions to space science and leadership in international astronomy.
Presented annually by the Baird of Bute Society, the award honours Scots who have made significant contributions to innovation in science, technology and entrepreneurship.
It commemorates Andrew Blain Baird, a blacksmith from the Isle of Bute who achieved the first all-Scottish heavier-than-air powered flight in 1910. Founded in 2011, the Society uses Baird's legacy to inspire young Scots through awards, scholarships and educational programmes.
She was honoured for her career in infrared astronomy, including her role as European Principal Investigator on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) onboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). MIRI, one of JWST's four scientific instruments, has delivered some of the most detailed data and awe-inspiring images of the cosmos ever captured.
Under her leadership, UK ATC contributed to major international astronomy projects including the SKA Observatory, the Extremely Large Telescope and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna - the world's first space-based gravitational wave observatory.
Professor Wright said: “It is a very special honour to receive the Baird of Bute Innovation Award and have my career recognised here in Scotland. I have been fortunate to work with fantastic people across Scotland, the UK, Europe and North America and in particular a special thanks to the MIRI Team and the UK ATC staff for their collaboration, innovation and shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible."
Although the award was announced in 2024, unfortunately last year's event was cancelled. Professor Wright will collect her award on 12 September, alongside 2025 recipient Sir James Hough, recognised for his research on gravitational waves at the University of Glasgow.
The joint celebration of the awards for Gillian Wright and Sir James Hough carries a special significance beyond their individual achievements. Sir James Hough was one of Gillian's undergraduate tutors at the University of Glasgow and played a pivotal role in helping her secure a position at Imperial College London, where she studied for her PhD. This personal connection, rooted in their shared academic background in Scotland, makes this year's honour all the more notable.
Professor Gillian Wright and Sir James Hough join a distinguished list of recipients including Nobel Laureates Sir Fraser Stoddart, Richard Henderson and Sir David MacMillan, and physicist Professor Sheila Rowan.
Find out more about the Baird of Bute 2025 programme of public events on 12 & 13 September.
