Beatrice Muriel Hill Tinsley (27 January 1941 – 23 March 1981) was a British-born New Zealand astronomer and cosmologist, and the first female professor of astronomy at Yale University, whose research made fundamental contributions to the astronomical understanding of how galaxies evolve, grow and die.
Life
Beatrice Hill was born 1941 in Chester, England, as the middle of three daughters of Jean and Edward Hill.[1] The family emigrated to New Zealand following World War II, first living in Christchurch, and then for a longer time in New Plymouth, where her father was a clergyman, Moral Re-Armer, and later became the mayor (1953–56).
While studying in Christchurch, she married physicist and university classmate Brian Tinsley, not knowing that this would prevent her from working at the university while he was employed there.[1] Tinsley completed her master's thesis in 1962.[2] They moved in 1963 to the United States, to Dallas, Texas, where Brian was hired by the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies (now the University of Texas at Dallas). However, she was said to have found the situation "stultifying", and had once caused a controversy by refusing to follow the custom of hosting a faculty tea.[1] In 1964, she enrolled at UT-Austin, where she was the only woman in the astronomy programme and where she would later publish her groundbreaking research.[3]
Despite receiving recognition for her work, Tinsley was unable to find a permanent academic position. In 1974, after years of attempting to balance home, family and two commuting careers, she left her husband and two adopted children to take a position as assistant professor at Yale.[1] On 1 July 1978 she was appointed a professor of astronomy at Yale, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[4] She worked at Yale until her death from melanoma in the Yale Infirmary in 1981.
Professional activity
Tinsley completed pioneering theoretical studies of how populations of stars age and affect the observable qualities of galaxies. She also collaborated on basic research into models investigating whether the universe is closed or open. Her galaxy models led to the first approximation of what protogalaxies should look like.
In 1977, Tinsley, with Richard Larson of Yale, organised a conference on 'The Evolution of Galaxies and Stellar Populations'.
Shortly after, in 1978, she became the first female professor of astronomy at Yale University.[6] Her last scientific paper, submitted to The Astrophysical Journal ten days before her death, was published posthumously that November, without revision.[7][note 1]
In 1986 the American Astronomical Society established the Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize, which recognises "an outstanding research contribution to astronomy or astrophysics, of an exceptionally creative or innovative character."[8] It is the only major award created by an American scientific society which honours a woman scientist. The award is not made with restriction on a candidate's citizenship or country of residence.[8]
The University of Texas at Austin established from endowment in 1989 the Beatrice M. Tinsley Centennial Visiting Professorship, where a distinguished mid-career or senior professor is invited to visit for up to a semester.[10] In 2007 they added the Tinsley Scholars, awards for younger researchers to briefly visit Austin.[10]
Her obituary was published by The New York Times several decades later on 18 July 2018,[1] in their "Overlooked" project, which aims to note "the stories of remarkable people whose deaths went unreported in The Times".[18]
In 2018, the Yale Society of Physics Students began an inaugural prize lecture in honour of Tinsley.[19]
A 2019 $1.20 New Zealand postage stamp in a series of "New Zealand Space Pioneers" honours her.[20]
The University of Canterbury College of Science named their staff and postgraduate building after Tinsley, which was opened in October 2019 by the Honourable Dr Megan Woods, Vice-Chancellor Cheryl de la Rey, and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Science Professor Wendy Lawson.[21] The building uses Pres-Lam technology developed at the university.[22]
The final track on the 2022 Forenzics album Shades and Echoes, "Autumn", is credited "Words by NZ astronomer Beatrice Hill Tinsley – adapted with permission by T. Finn".[23]
^The editor's note: "Deceased on 1981 March 23, thus ending prematurely a distinguished career. The text of this last paper was not revised, although Michele Kaufman kindly added some clarifying definitions and comments."
^Tinsley, B.M. (1981). "Chemical evolution in the solar neighborhood. IV – Some revised general equations and a specific model". Astrophysical Journal. 250: 758–768. Bibcode:1981ApJ...250..758T. doi:10.1086/159425.
Guarnieri, Maria D.; Pancaldi Stagni, Maria G. (1991). "Beatrice Muriel Hill Tinsley: una vita per la scienza". Orione. 11: 28–33. Bibcode:1991Ori....11...28G.
Larson, Richard B.; Stryker, Linda L. (1982). "Beatrice Muriel Hill Tinsley". Quarterly of the Royal Astronomical Society. 23: 162. Bibcode:1982QJRAS..23..162L.
Whineray, Scott, ed. (1985). Beatrice (Hill) Tinsley, 1941–1981, Astronomer: A Tribute in Memory of an Outstanding Physicist. Palmerston North, N.Z.: Massey University, New Zealand, Institute of Physics Education Committee.
