Holly Gilbert awarded inaugural Irene González Prize
Gilbert leads NSF NCAR's High Altitude Observatory
Jan 15, 2025 - by Staff
Announcement from the Solar Physics Division. Read more about this award and other 2025 recognitions on their website.
The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) selected Holly Gilbert to receive the inaugural Irene González Hernández Prize. This prestigious award recognizes a mid-career scientist who has made significant and transformative contributions to the field of solar physics. The prize, established in April 2024 to honor the memory of Irene González Hernández, celebrates exceptional achievements in solar research, leadership, and community service.
Gilbert is the director of the High Altitude Observatory at the National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) and is also serving as the center's interim deputy director. She is being recognized for her groundbreaking work on solar prominences, including their activation phases and connections to broader coronal dynamics. Her research has provided profound insights into the physical mechanisms driving solar activity, with far-reaching implications for understanding the Sun's impact on the heliosphere and space weather.
In addition to her scientific contributions, Gilbert has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of heliophysics through her leadership at both NASA and NSF NCAR. Her visionary approach to setting scientific priorities has advanced research in solar physics, heliospheric physics, and space weather, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering the development of innovative instrumentation projects. Gilbert's commitment to diversity and inclusion has further strengthened the solar physics community through her support and mentorship of the next generation of scientists.
Gilbert’s contributions exemplify the spirit of this award, advancing our understanding of the Sun, catalyzing new approaches to key challenges in heliophysics, and setting a high standard for leadership and diversity that ensures solar physics remains a dynamic and inclusive scientific community. The AAS SPD community congratulates Gilbert on this recognition and celebrates her continuing contributions to the advancement of solar physics.
About the Irene González Hernández Prize:
The SPD Irene González Hernández Prize honors scientists in their mid-career stage — defined as between eleven and twenty years of cumulative professional experience following the completion of their terminal degree — for outstanding contributions that extend beyond the work recognized by other SPD awards. The award reflects the lasting impact of Irene González Hernández, a solar physicist remembered for her scientific rigor, dedication to the community, and passion for mentoring emerging researchers. The 2025 González Hernández Prize will be presented at SPD’s 56th meeting, held jointly with the AAS and the Laboratory Astrophysics Division during 8-12 June 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.