Dr Sheila Kanani, the Royal Astronomical Society’s Education, Outreach and Diversity Officer has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours list. She receives the honour in recognition of her services to astronomy and to diversity in physics.
Sheila has worked for the RAS since 2014. Before taking up her role with us, she completed her PhD in planetary science at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in 2012, where she received a NASA Group Achievement Award, and worked as a physics teacher at Ashton Community Science College in Lancashire. She was also awarded an Inspiring Women in Technology Award in 2014, and won the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement in Planetary Science in 2020.
Philip Diamond, RAS Executive Director, said:
“Sheila is a huge asset to astronomy and to the Royal Astronomical Society. She has made a huge contribution to public engagement and I’m delighted that this has been recognised with an MBE. My congratulations to her for this well-deserved award.”
Media Contacts
Dr Robert Massey
Royal Astronomical Society
Mob: +44 (0)7802 877 699
press@ras.ac.uk
Gurjeet Kahlon
Royal Astronomical Society
Mob: +44 (0)7802 877700
press@ras.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. The RAS organises scientific meetings, publishes international research and review journals, recognises outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, maintains an extensive library, supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. Its more than 4,000 members (Fellows), a third based overseas, include scientific researchers in universities, observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others.
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