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Dr. Helen Mason
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
I was educated at St Bernard's Convent, and Langley Grammar School in Slough where I obtained nine 0-levels, three grade As at A-levels in Physics, Maths and Further Maths, and an S-level grade 1 in Physics.
In 1970, I obtained a first class honours B.Sc. degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics, from Queen Mary College in London. In 1973, I was awarded a Ph.D. in Atomic and Astrophysics at the University of London, and won the UCL Carey Foster Research Prize and later in 1978 gained an honorary M.A. at the University of Cambridge.
I am a member of staff at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge. I am also a Fellow of St Edmund's College. I have been based at Cambridge for 20 years, but was trained at the University of London. I lecture at Cambridge University and have also taught for the Open University.
My field of research is solar physics, in particular the ultraviolet and X-ray spectrum of the Sun. I have worked on many space projects including Skylab's Apollo Telescope Mount, the Solar Maximum Mission satellite and Spacelab2. More recently I have been working with a satellite called SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, an ESA and NASA space project, which was launched in December 1995. The observations from SOHO have completely changed our view of the Sun.
I am keen to convey my interest and excitement in solar physics to the general public and to school children. I have written articles and participated in radio and TV programmes. I am collaborating with some colleagues to produce a CD-ROM for teenagers (13-16 year old) called Sun Block '99: Young Scientists Investigate the Sun
