Philippa Browning
British physicist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philippa K. Browning FInstP is a Professor of Astrophysics in the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.[3] She specialises in the mathematical modelling of fusion and solar plasmas.[4]
University of St Andrews (PhD)
Hannes Alfvén Prize (2026)
Philippa Browning | |
|---|---|
| Born | Philippa K. Browning |
| Education | Millfield[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (BA) University of St Andrews (PhD) |
| Awards | Chapman Medal (2016) Hannes Alfvén Prize (2026) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics Solar physics |
| Institutions | University of Manchester University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
| Thesis | Inhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere |
| Doctoral advisor | Eric Priest[2] |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Browning was educated at Millfield[1] and studied the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1979.[5] She completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos in 1980.[6] She was inspired by Yuri Gagarin to work in astrophysics.[7][8] For her graduate studies Browning joined the University of St Andrews working with Eric Priest.[9][10] She submitted her thesis on Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields in the Solar Atmosphere in 1984.[2]
Research and career
After completing her PhD Browning worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Eric Priest.[9] She studied coronal loops, finding they were a balance of magnetic tension forces, buoyancy and pressure gradients.[11] Her work covered the fundamentals of flux tubes.[12] Browning was appointed a lecturer at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1985.[13] She joined the University of Manchester in 2004, where she works on the interactions between plasmas and magnetic fields.[3] She is particularly interested in solar flares.[14][15][16] In 2009, Browning was promoted to professor at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.[4] She served as editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research from 2010 to 2013.[17] She contributed to the book Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas.[18] She continues to study coronal heating.[19][20] In January 2026, Browning announced her retirement from Manchester, after more than four decades of teaching and research at the institution.[13]
In 2013 Browning was made chair of the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Committee and the Solar Physics Council.[21] Through the Solar Physics Council, Browning is a mentor for young solar physicists.[22] In 2014 Browning arranged two-day meeting to discuss coronal heating at the Royal Society.[23]
As of 2018[update] Browning is working on the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe.[7] Browning has appeared at the Bluedot Festival. She discussed her work on solar flares and their interaction with the earth.[24] She has taken part in the Manchester Science Festival.[25] Browning serves on the Institute of Physics Women in Physics advisory panel.[26]
Awards and honours
Browning was awarded the Chapman Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society in 2016.[27][28] The medal recognised her "pioneering work on energy release by magnetic relaxation in stressed coronal magnetic fields".[29] In 2017 she was awarded a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) research grant to explore particle acceleration in twisted magnetic fields.[30] She was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).[when?] Browning was the 2026 recipient of the Hannes Alfvén Prize of the European Physical Society Plasma Physics Division, given for "innovative results that bridge astrophysical and laboratory plasmas".[31]
