Plumian Professor of Astronomy

Plumian Professor of Astronomy is a prestigious academic chair in astronomy and experimental philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Established in 1704 by a bequest from Thomas Plume, it is one of the oldest endowed professorships in the field. The position has been held by many of history's most influential astronomers and astrophysicists, who have made foundational contributions to celestial mechanics, stellar physics, and cosmology. The professor is typically based at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge and plays a leading role in the university's astronomical research and teaching.

History and establishment

The professorship was founded through the will of Thomas Plume, a Church of England clergyman and Archdeacon of Rochester, who left funds to the University of Cambridge upon his death in 1704. Plume's endowment specified the establishment of a professorship dedicated to astronomy and experimental philosophy, reflecting the growing scientific spirit of the Age of Enlightenment. The first holder, Roger Cotes, was appointed in 1706 and was a close collaborator of Sir Isaac Newton, helping to prepare the second edition of Newton's seminal work, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. The early history of the position is closely intertwined with the Cambridge Observatory, which became a central site for the professor's observational work. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the chair was instrumental in establishing Cambridge as a leading center for astronomical study, navigating periods of reform within the University of Cambridge and the broader Royal Society.

List of Plumian Professors

Since its inception, the position has been held by a distinguished succession of scientists. Following Roger Cotes, notable 18th-century holders included Robert Smith and John Couch Adams, the co-discoverer of the planet Neptune. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw tenures by figures such as George Biddell Airy, who later became Astronomer Royal, and James Challis. In the modern era, the chair has been occupied by pioneering astrophysicists including Fred Hoyle, a prominent proponent of the Steady State theory and coiner of the term "Big Bang," and Martin Rees, who later became Astronomer Royal and a member of the House of Lords. The current holder, appointed in 2023, is Didier Queloz, a Nobel Prize in Physics laureate renowned for his role in discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a main-sequence star.

Role and responsibilities

The primary role involves conducting world-leading research in astronomy and astrophysics while providing academic leadership within the University of Cambridge. The professor typically holds a fellowship at a Cambridge college, such as Trinity College or St John's College, and oversees graduate and postgraduate education. A key responsibility is directing research programs at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, which involves securing grants from bodies like the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the European Research Council. The professor also contributes to the broader scientific community through service on committees for organizations like the Royal Astronomical Society and often engages in public outreach to explain complex astronomical phenomena.

Notable contributions and research

Holders of the chair have been responsible for transformative advances across astronomy. John Couch Adams's mathematical prediction of Neptune's existence remains a landmark in celestial mechanics. George Biddell Airy made significant improvements in planetary theory and the design of telescope instruments during his tenure. In the 20th century, Fred Hoyle made seminal contributions to nucleosynthesis, explaining the origin of chemical elements in stars, while also engaging in famous debates about cosmology with proponents of the Big Bang theory. More recent holders, like Douglas Gough, advanced helioseismology, and the current professor, Didier Queloz, revolutionized the field with the discovery of 51 Pegasi b, inaugurating the modern study of exoplanets and their atmospheres.

Relationship with Cambridge University

The professorship is deeply embedded within the structure and tradition of the University of Cambridge. It is a central pillar of the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, which was formed from the amalgamation of the Cambridge Observatory and other departments. The professor works closely with the Cavendish Laboratory on interdisciplinary projects involving astrophysics and particle physics, and collaborates with the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Historically, the role has been linked with the Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry, another endowed chair at Cambridge. The professor also interacts with the Cambridge University Press on publishing scholarly works and participates in the governance of the university through the Regent House and the Council of the University of Cambridge.

Category:University of Cambridge professors