A Level Physics: diverse role models for women in astrophysics content
21 May 2024
Mike Jackson, Physics Subject Advisor
I have been reflecting on the launch of Stemettes’ white paper entitled “Equitable Curriculum Reform: More and Diverse Women and Non-Binary Representation in the UK GCSE and A-Level Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Curriculum”. This launch was supported by my colleague and fellow science advisor, Amy Louise Brewer.
Having spent most of my teaching career in a girls’ comprehensive school, I have a passion for encouraging more girls to see physics as a subject which they can be successful in. Relatable role models can really help in this. This blog aims to highlight just a few of the women who can be linked to your A Level teaching, for both Physics A and Physics B specifications, to help students envisage themselves as tomorrow’s astrophysicists.
Caroline Herschel charted the universe
Many people will be aware of the discoveries of William Herschel and his nephew John in astronomy and physics but William’s younger sister Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) was also a renowned astronomer. She worked with William, overcoming growth and vision issues caused by typhus as a child.
Caroline became known for her discovery of eight comets as well as a nebula and Messier 110 (a dwarf galaxy). She went on to develop an index of stars previously observed by John Flamsteed with a list of 560 stars that had not been included, and a list of errata. Her work contributed towards the New General Catalogue (NGC) which is used to this day. Caroline was the first woman in England to have an official government position and the first to be paid for work in astronomy.
Comets and galaxies are part of the Physics A specification in 5.5.1 (a) and could be linked to 5.1.3 in Physics B.
Annie Jump Cannon classified the stars
Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941) is also known for her work in cataloguing objects in space, and particularly in classifying stars. She worked as a “computer”, cataloguing and classifying stars at Harvard (through underpaid work). She developed the Harvard spectral classification system (OBAFGKM). She classified around 350,000 stars in her lifetime. The International Astronomical Union adopted her system as the official spectral classification system.
Cannon was the first woman to receive a Doctor of Astronomy degree from Groningen University and the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University, among other honours. She was finally appointed to a permanent faculty position at the Harvard College Observatory in 1938, three years before her death at the age of 77 years old.
Stars are studied in topic 5.5.1 in Physics A and are related in general to topic 5.1 in Physics B.
Henrietta Swan Leavitt and Cepheid variables
Cepheid variables are stars which brighten and dim periodically. In 1912 Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921) was able to measure the period of the stars by timing the ups and downs in brightness. Leavitt recognised that Cepheids have consistent luminosity during fluctuations. She went on to realise that there was a relationship between brightness and period. This discovery enabled astrophysicists to calculate distances to observed galaxies by comparison to Cepheids.
The credit for her work was, at the time, largely attributed to Harlow Shapley (the director) who went on to use this discovery to calculate the size of the Milky Way. Later other astronomers, such as Edwin Hubble, came to recognise her work.
Star luminosity is covered in specification point 5.5.1 (j) (though not Cepheid variables specifically) in Physics A and distances in space are covered in Physics B in specification point 5.1.3 (c).
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin found that stars are made mostly of hydrogen
We now teach the composition of stars and spectral lines as a common fact. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900-1979) was a British-born astronomer who became the first woman to be awarded a PhD in astronomy at Radcliffe College with a thesis on how line patterns in spectra of stars could be related to the physical conditions on those stars. She hypothesised (correctly) that hydrogen was the main component of most stars, despite disagreement from Harlow Shapley and Henry Norris Russell.
Payne-Gaposchkin was unable to get a professorship due to being a woman, but published numerous books about stars and was eventually awarded the first woman professorship at Harvard in 1956, going on to be the first woman to obtain department chair.
The composition of stars relates to the Physics A specification points 5.5.2 (e) and (f) as well as nuclear fusion within 5.5.1 (b) and 6.4.4 (j) and in Physics B within 6.6.2 (a). Her work also aided further interpretation of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (Physics A:5.5.1 (g) and Physics B: 5.1.3 (b)).
Vera Cooper Rubin showed that galaxies are mostly made of dark matter
Vera Cooper Rubin (1928-2016) studied the distribution of galaxies (known at the time) and found that they were not uniformly distributed as expected. Her work was further corroborated by similar studies as more data became available.
Her later work at Carnegie’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) established that speeds of stars in the outer parts of galaxies remain constant rather than declining as expected. The speed of these stars requires a mass beyond that which is observed in stars and gas to prevent them from flying out of the galaxy. This finding provides further evidence for dark matter – something that cannot be seen but has mass. Vera Cooper Rubin is also well known for criticising departments and conferences for a lack of female representation.
Physics A covers dark matter in specification point 5.5.3 (o) and there is an opportunity to discuss evolving theories in science.
Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an advocate for diversity in science
Theoretical physicist Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein was named as one of ten people who helped shape science in 2020. She is a monthly columnist at New Scientist and studies the origin and history of the universe. Her main focus is the physics and astrophysics of dark matter, including a hypothetical particle known as the axion, inflation (of the universe just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang) and Quantum Field Theory, pushing the boundaries of what we can calculate.
Dr. Prescod-Weinstein’s website includes a trailer for her book “The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred”, a TED talk on dark matter and an overview of her research and life in science (in which she also references Vera Cooper Rubin’s work).
The Big Bang theory and dark matter are in the Physics A specification in 5.5.3 while Physics B covers the Big Bang theory in 5.1.3 (a).
Don’t forget our STEM collaborators resources
There are many other examples of past and current women in astrophysics. Our STEM Contributors resource is an excellent way to learn about diverse STEM contributors. The resource lists diverse STEM collaborators, including current scientists, and is linked to specification points.
Making sure that students envisage themselves as scientists and using current examples, linked to careers, may be helpful in developing the diverse scientists of the future. This resource can be a great way to introduce a wide range of representation in your lessons and help to meet the Gatsby benchmarks.
Stemettes also offers support connecting women and non-binary people into Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM).
Stay connected
Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any questions, you can email us at science@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or message us on X (formerly Twitter) @OCR_Science. You can also sign up to subject updates to keep up-to-date with the latest news, updates and resources.
About the author
Mike joined OCR in January 2024 and is a subject advisor for A Level Physics. Before joining OCR, Mike was Head of Science in a Birmingham comprehensive school and has been a Physics Network Lead among other roles to support science in schools. Mike is passionate about inclusion in education, environment and sustainability.
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