The University of Tasmania is extending a huge congratulations to Honours graduate Sophie Young who has received the Astronomical Society of Australia’s 2024 Bart Bok Prize.

This prestigious award recognises outstanding research by an Honours or eligible Masters student in Australia.

Ms Young’s research explores the distant Universe, a place full of radio galaxies, which are galaxies that emit bursts of intense light from supermassive black hole jets. This light, known as synchrotron radiation, is often more than a million times brighter than the sun.

Studying these galaxies, which are often young, small and distant, is incredibly challenging. Through her research, Sophie created a theoretical sample of these radio galaxies, providing a vital tool for real-world astronomical research. Her work demonstrates how these galaxies influence their surroundings by injecting energy and momentum into the gas clouds between stars.

The University of Tasmania extends its congratulations to Ms Young and looks forward to her future contributions to the field of astronomy.

Read full article Honours graduate takes out national award for black hole research | University of Tasmania (utas.edu.au)