Professor Anna Barnett

The University’s Professor of Space Research, Anna Barnett, has been awarded the first substantive Higher Doctorate from Sussex since 2009.

Following a rigorous international examination process, Prof Barnett, Director of the Space Research Group and former Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, was awarded the substantive Higher Doctorate of Doctor of Science by University Senate when it met in November 2021 in recognition of her distinguished research achievements.

More commonly awarded as honorary degrees at graduation ceremonies, Higher Doctorates can also be awarded as substantive degrees for exceptional and sustained research accomplishments. Substantive Higher Doctorates are awarded only rarely.

Prof Barnett is the world’s foremost expert on novel high temperature tolerant semiconductor radiation spectrometers, and received her DSc for substantially advancing the state of the art in radiation detector physics. She becomes the first recipient of a substantive Higher Doctorate from Sussex since 2009, and only the second woman in the history of Sussex to be awarded the substantive degree of Doctor of Science by the University.

Writing of Professor Barnett’s research, the independent external examiners commented that she had made an “outstanding contribution to the advancement of the field”, provided “distinguished leadership within the international scientific community”, and described her as “a scientific powerhouse” who is “visionary in her scope and inclusive in her science”.