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A С����Ƶ scientist has won an award for his work on modelling galaxies in the early universe.

Dr Chris Lovell received the 2024 Winton award from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). 

His work is being used to understand and characterise some of the earliest forming galaxies discovered recently by the James Webb Space Telescope. 

The RAS gives the Winton award each year to exceptionally promising post-doctoral scientists at UK institutions whose careers show the most promise. 

It was awarded to Dr Lovell because of his research interest in the modelling of galaxies in hydrodynamical simulations, particularly in the early universe. He was also recognised for his keen interest in developing and applying novel machine-learning techniques to astrophysics.

Dr Lovell, from the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, said: “My research interests span a broad range of topics in galaxy evolution, though I am particularly focused on early galaxy formation in the first billion years after the Big Bang, when the first stars and galaxies emerged.

“It’s amazing to be recognised by the Royal Astronomical Society and I’m honoured to receive this award. This nascent period in the universe’s history is now being probed in exquisite detail by cutting-edge observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s a very exciting time to be involved!”

One of the most challenging classes of galaxy to model are the dusty galaxies discovered in submillimetre surveys, galaxies which have exceptionally high star-formation rates. 

It has been difficult to produce these galaxies in simulations, but Dr Lovell has shown that realistic ‘submillimetre galaxies’ can be formed in cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. 

This important step forward is now allowing us to explore the properties of these galaxies in more detail, making possible detailed comparisons between the model and observations to motivate future observational programmes.