Prof Dougherty is professor of space physics at Imperial College London, and her research focuses on the magnetic field interactions of planets, especially those of the gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter.

She was the principal investigator of the magnetometer on Nasa’s Cassini spacecraft mission, which analysed data of Saturn’s magnetic field. Prof Dougherty’s work led to the discovery of water vapour around the Saturnian moon Enceladus, thereby showing it could harbour life.

Prof Dougherty also worked on the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and the current Juice mission to the Jovian moons Europa, Callisto and Ganymede, which is scheduled to arrive in 2032.

When Juice launched in 2023, she said the project was trying to detect tiny magnetic fluctuations, which is “like trying to find lots of needles in a haystack, and those needles are changing shape and colour all the time”.

She has been instrumental in furthering humanity’s knowledge of the solar system and is highly decorated with awards and recognition, including the Hughes Medal, a CBE, and being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Women in Stem

Prof Dougherty has also spoken about the importance of inclusion and diversity in science, particularly around the value of women in Stem fields.

In 2022, she criticised headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh for saying that girls shun physics at A-level because of an aversion to “hard maths”.

Prof Dougherty said at the time: “We have worked incredibly hard in the UK in recent years to ensure that anyone who is interested in studying physics feels supported and enabled to do so, and this is something we will continue to focus on.

“I am so very proud of all that my students and staff achieve as they carve out their careers – irrespective of their gender. It is astounding to me that senior leaders in the UK continue to make such unbelievably stereotypical comments, which are not backed up by data.”

Prof Dame Angela McLean, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said: “Warm congratulations to Prof Michele Dougherty on her appointment to the distinguished position of Astronomer Royal. This is a fitting recognition of her outstanding work and enduring commitment to the field of astronomy.”

Prof Dougherty follows in the footsteps of Prof Catherine Heymans, an astrophysicist from Edinburgh University, who became the first woman to be named Astronomer Royal for Scotland in 2021.