Lidia van Driel-Gesztelyi is a Hungarian solar scientist and professor of physics at the

Mullard Space Science Laboratory The UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) is the United Kingdom's largest university space research group. MSSL is part of the Department of Space and Climate Physics at University College London (UCL), one of the first universities in the ...

of University College London. She also maintains affiliations with Solar and Stellar Activity Research Team at Konkoly Observatory of the

Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Hungarian Academy of Sciences ( hu, Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, MTA) is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest, between Széchenyi rakpart and Akadémia utca. Its ma ...

and the Space Research Laboratory (LESIA) of

Paris Observatory The Paris Observatory (french: Observatoire de Paris ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world. Its histor ...

. She has been Editor-in-Chief of the journal ''Solar Physic''s since 2005 and has served in leadership roles within the International Astronomical Union.

Background and scientific career

van Driel-Gesztelyi completed a University Diploma in Astronomy and Physics at Eotvos University, Budapest, Hungary in 1974. and a PhD at

Charles University ) , image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg , image_size = 200px , established = , type = Public, Ancient , budget = 8.9 billion CZK , rector = Milena Králíčková , faculty = 4,057 , administrative_staff = 4,026 , students = 51,438 , undergr ...

, Prague, in 1990. In 2004 she was awarded a DSc from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest. van Driel-Gesztelyi started her research career at Debrecen Observatory, Hungary, in 1974, where she was remained until 1992. In 1988 she was appointed a guest researcher of the Astronomical Institute, University of Utrecht and in 1992 of the ISAS &

Kiso Observatory Kiso Observatory ( ja, 木曽観測所: Kiso Kansokujo) is an astronomical observatory located at Mt. Ontake in Japan. The observatory was founded in 1974, originally as a branch observatory of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, with the expres ...

, Tokyo University. In 1994 she also began a guest appointment at the

Observatoire de Paris-Meudon The Paris Observatory (french: Observatoire de Paris ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world. Its histor ...

(which she maintains to this day), and was appointed a senior scientific fellow of Konkoly Observatory, Hungary. In 2000 she joined the

of University College London and in 2001 KU Leuven, Belgium. She is married to Wim van Driel, a Dutch astronomer working at the

Research interests

van Driel-Gesztelyi has published around 300 articles on solar physics topics including the emergence and decay of magnetic flux on the solar surface, long-term evolution of active regions, flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetic helicity, coronal heating. In particular, she has made significant contributions to our understanding to how solar

active regions An active region is a temporary region in the Sun's atmosphere characterized by a strong and complex magnetic field. They are often associated with sunspots and are commonly the source of violent eruptions such as coronal mass ejections and sol ...

form and evolve.

Awards and honours

2018 Doctor Honoris Causa title from

2017–present Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics editorial committee member 2015 Royal Astronomical Society award for service to Geophysics 2013-2017

International Space Science Institute The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) is an Institute of Advanced Studies based in Bern, Switzerland. The institute's work is interdisciplinary, focusing on the study of the Solar System, and encompasses planetary sciences, astrophysics, ...

science committee 2012-2015 President of Division E (Sun and Heliosphere) of the International Astronomical Union 2009-2012 President of Commission 10 (Solar Activity) of the International Astronomical Union 2005–present Editor-in-chief of ''Solar Physics''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Driel-Gesztelyi, Lidia Hungarian scientists Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Academics of UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory