Martin Ryle

Dates

September 27, 1918 – October 14, 1984

Authorized Form of Name

Ryle, Martin, 1918-1984

Additional Forms of Names

Ryle, Martin, Sir, 1918-1984

Biography

Abstract

Sir Martin Ryle was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974 alongside Antony Hewish "for their pioneering research in radio astrophysics: Ryle for his observations and inventions, in particular of the aperture synthesis technique, and Hewish for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars." The majority of his career was spent at the University of Cambridge, however he was also involved in many scientific societies and academies, and was knighted and appointed Astronomer Royal by the British government.

Important Dates

September 27, 1918Birth, Brighton (England).

1939Obtained Degree in Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford (England).

1945After working on radar and radio systems during World War II, joined J. A. Ratcliffe’s ionospheric research group, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1948University Lecturer in Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).

1949Fellowship, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).

1952Fellow, Royal Society.

1954Awarded the Hughes Medal, Royal Society.

1955Halley Lecturer, University of Oxford.

1957Director, Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory.

1958Bakerian Lecturer, Royal Society.

1959Chair of Radio Astronomy, Cambridge University.

1963Awarded the Van der Pol Medal, International Union of Radio Science (URSI).

1964Awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, London.

1964 – 1967President, Commission 40, International Astronomical Union.

1965Awawrded the Holweck Prize, Societé Française de Physique.

1965Awarded the Henry Draper Medal, U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

1966Knighted.

1968Elected Foreign Member, Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

1970Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1971Foreign Member, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences..

1971Awarded the Morris N. Liebmann Award, Institution of Electrical & Electronic Engineers.

1971Awarded the Faraday Medal, Institution of Electrical Engineers.

1971Awarded the Popov Medal, USSR Academy of Sciences.

1971Awarded the Michelson Medal, Franklin Institute.

1972Appointed Astronomer Royal.

1973Awarded the Royal Medal, Royal Society.

1974Awarded the Bruce Medal, Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

1974Foreign Member, Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher, Leopoldina.

1974Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Antony Hewish "for their pioneering research in radio astrophysics: Ryle for his observations and inventions, in particular of the aperture synthesis technique, and Hewish for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars".

October 14, 1984Death, Cambridge (England).

Occupation

Radio astronomer and physcist.

Places

Subjects

Astrophysics.

Energy conservation.

Physics -- Military aspects.

Radio astronomy.

Radio research.

Solar energy.

Relationships

People

Family

Palmer, Rowena

Wife, married 1947.

Ryle, Gilbert, 1900-1976

Uncle and Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy, University of Oxford.

Advisors & Collaborators

Baldwin, John

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Bragg, William Lawrence, Sir, 1890-1971

Advisor at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Conway, R. G.

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Hewish, A.

Advised by Ryle at Cambridge University. Shared 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their pioneering research in radio astrophysics: Ryle for his observations and inventions, in particular of the aperture synthesis technique, and Hewish for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars."

Laan, Harry van der, 1936-

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Longair, M. S.

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Ratcliffe, J. A. (John Ashworth)

Advisor at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Wilson, A. (Andrew), 1956-

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Wynn-Williams, C. G. (C. Gareth), 1944-

Advised by Ryle at University of Cambridge.

Additional

Boyd, R. L. F.

Burbidge, E. Margaret

Burbidge, Geoffrey R.

Fowler, A. (Alfred), 1868-1940

Garstang, Roy Henry

Gold, Thomas

Graham-Smith, Francis, Sir, 1923-

Kurti, Nicholas

Lovell, Bernard, 1913-2012

O'Connell, D. J. K.

Rees, Martin J., 1942-

Salpeter, Edwin E.

Sciama, D. W. (Dennis William), 1926-

Sullivan, Woodruff Turner

Woolley, Richard van der Riet, Sir

Institutions

Major Positions

Cavendish Laboratory (Cambridge, England)

Researcher, J. A. Ratcliffe's ionospheric research group.

Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory

Director.

Royal Society (Great Britain)

Fellow; awarded Hughes Medal (1954); Bakerian Lecturer; and awarded the Royal Medal (1973).

Trinity College (University of Cambridge)

Fellow.

University of Cambridge. Department of Physics

University Lecturer in Physics and Chair of Radio Astronomy.

University of Oxford

Received Degree in Physics (1939), and Halley Lecturer.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Foreign Member.

Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Awarded the Bruce Medal (1974)

Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina

Foreign Member.

Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Awarded the Michelson Medal (1971).

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Awarded the Morris N. Liebmann Award (1971).

Institution of Electrical Engineers

Awarded the Faraday Medal (1971).

International Astronomical Union

President, Commission 40.

International Union of Radio Science

Awarded the Van der Pol Medal (1963).

Kongelige Danske videnskabernes selskab

Foreign Member.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Awarded the Henry Draper Medal (1965).

Rossiiskaia akademiia nauk

Foreign Member and awarded the Popov Medal (1971).

Royal Astronomical Society

Awarded the Gold Medal (1964).

Société française de physique

Awarded the Holweck Prize (1965).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Martin Ryle papers, 1924-1998.

Archives Centre

Churchill College

Cambridge CB3 0DS

Woodruff T. Sullivan papers, 1946-2009.

Subject

BBC written archives, 1922-[ongoing].

BBC Written Archives Centre

Caversham Park, Reading, RG4 8TZ

Eleanor Margaret Burbidge Papers, 1961-1974.

Department of Manuscripts and University Archives

Royal Greenwich Observation Archives

Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England UK

Oral history interview with Daniel Joseph Kelly O'Connell, 1976 August 31.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics