Bernard Pagel facts for kids
Bernard Ephraim Julius Pagel (born January 4, 1930 – died July 14, 2007) was a brilliant British scientist. He was an astrophysicist, which means he studied space and the stars. Bernard Pagel spent his career figuring out what stars and galaxies are made of. He looked at the different elements inside them.
Early Life and Education
Bernard Pagel was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1930. His father, Walter Pagel, was a doctor and medical historian. His grandfather, Julius Leopold Pagel, was also a German physician.
In 1933, when Bernard was just three years old, his family moved to Britain. They moved to avoid the difficult situation for Jewish people in Germany at that time.
Bernard went to Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood. After that, he studied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1950 with top honors in Physics.
He continued his studies at Cambridge, earning his PhD in 1955. From 1953 to 1956, he was a Research Fellow at Sidney Sussex College.
Bernard Pagel's Career in Astronomy
In 1956, Bernard Pagel started working at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. This famous observatory is located at Herstmonceux Castle. He spent most of his career there, becoming a very senior scientist.
While working at the Observatory, he also taught at Sussex University. He started as a Visiting Reader in Astronomy in 1967. Later, he became a Visiting Professor.
After retiring from the Royal Greenwich Observatory in 1990, he moved to Copenhagen. There, he took on a new role at the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (NORDITA). He retired again in 1998 and moved back to Sussex. Even after retiring, he continued his scientific work until he passed away.
Awards and Achievements
Bernard Pagel received many important awards for his work. In 1990, he was given the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. This is the highest award from the Royal Astronomical Society.
In 1992, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very special honor for top scientists in the United Kingdom.
Bernard Pagel died in Ringmer, East Sussex, in 2007.
