The 2026 Caroline Herschel Medal was awarded to Professor Dr Heike Rauer at a ceremony at the British Embassy in Berlin last month.
Professor Rauer was recognised for her exceptional service to the astronomical community, her outstanding contributions to exoplanet science, and her leading role in the European Space Agency's (ESA) upcoming PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) mission.
This is designed to discover and characterise planets outside our Solar System, especially Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars, and is planned to launch in 2027.
Professor Rauer, of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Freie Universität Berlin, said: "For me, the Caroline Herschel Medal is of particular significance, not only because I naturally feel very honoured that my work is being recognised, but also because Caroline Herschel herself received recognition as a woman in science 300 years ago at a time when this was not considered normal.
"Even today, in many places, it is still not considered normal for women to work in science and technology, so having Caroline Herschel’s name associated with this medal means so much to me."
She added: "My advice to young women who are considering pursuing a career in science or engineering is to follow what your heart tells you. If you truly want to do something, if you are passionate about it, then you should go for it. Then you'll also be able to overcome the challenges that come with it."
The Caroline Herschel Medal, jointly awarded by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and German Astronomical Society (Astronomische Gesellschaft, AG), celebrates exceptional women astronomers in the UK and Germany.
Professor Rauer joins an esteemed group of past recipients, including Dr Linda Tacconi, Professor Gillian Wright, Professor Eva Grebel, and Professor Isobel Hook.
She also delivered a keynote address on her research at the ceremony on 28 April. Her research has significantly advanced the detection and characterisation of extrasolar planets, with particular emphasis on terrestrial planets and planetary atmospheres.
As Principal Investigator of ESA's PLATO mission, she has provided decisive scientific and organisational leadership. This includes the coordination of the international consortium of research institutes responsible for delivering the PLATO instrument and major scientific ground segment contributions, enabling the integrated exploitation of exoplanet discovery and stellar asteroseismology.
She has also played a key role in the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), exemplifying successful UK–German collaboration in ground-based exoplanet research.
Established in 2021, the Caroline Herschel Medal honours the legacy of pioneering astronomer Caroline Herschel (1750–1848), who made groundbreaking discoveries, including several comets.
The award not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights the important role of women in advancing our understanding of the universe. It is given out in alternate years to researchers based in the UK and Germany and is designed to honour the longstanding scientific cooperation between the two countries.
ENDS
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Images & captions
Professor Dr Heike Rauer medal presentation
Caption: Professor Dr Heike Rauer receives the 2026 Caroline Herschel Medal at a ceremony at the British Embassy in Berlin.
Credit: British Embassy Berlin
Professor Rauer keynote address
Caption: Professor Rauer delivered a keynote address on her research at the ceremony on 28 April.
Credit: British Embassy Berlin
Caption: The Caroline Herschel Medal.
Credit: Lynda Laird
Notes for editors
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