KU Leuven: Conny Aerts receives Kavli Prize for Astrophysics

KU Leuven Professor in Astronomy Conny Aerts was awarded the Kavli Prize for Astrophysics in June this year. Today, she received the Prize in a formal award ceremony together with American astrophysicist Roger Ulrich and Danish astrophysicist Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard. They are rewarded for their pioneering work and leadership in the development of helio- and asteroseismology that laid the foundations of solar and stellar structure theory, revolutionising our understanding of the interiors of stars.

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has awarded the 2022 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. This award honours outstanding achievements that advance our knowledge of the origin, evolution, and properties of the universe.

Professor Conny Aerts, Roger Ulrich, and Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard share this year’s Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for their pioneering work in the fields of helio- and asteroseismology and for breakthrough research that “has laid the foundations of solar and stellar structure theory, and revolutionised our understanding of the interiors of stars,” the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters said. The three scientists will share a $1 million prize.

“It is a fantastic honour to receive the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. It is a tribute to the dedicated efforts of all my team members over so many years and recognises the success of my inclusive team approach at KU Leuven. This award is also a great encouragement to develop new rigorous mathematical methods to tackle asteroseismology of the fastest rotators in the Universe,” said Conny Aerts.