Honorary doctorate for Prof. Julia Tjus: Light into the darkness of neutrinos!

Honorary doctorate for Prof. Julia Tjus: Light into the darkness of neutrinos!

On May 30, 2025, Prof. Dr. Julia Tjus received an honorary doctorate from Chalmers University of Technology. This award took place as part of the Academic Annual Ceremony in Gothenburg and recognized her groundbreaking contributions to astroparticle physics, particularly neutrino astronomy and cosmic rays. Her research at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has significantly expanded the understanding of the high-energy universe, particularly through the detection of the Milky Way in neutrino light, which successfully demonstrated the link between theory and observation.

Julia Tjus has a close relationship with Chalmers University of Technology, which dates back to a postdoctoral stay from 2008 to 2009. Over the course of her career, she has served the university not only as an associate professor in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment, but also as a Jubilee Professor in 2023, promoting Nordic collaborations between radio and neutrino astronomy. Measures to strengthen global research networks, international conferences and collaborative research projects are some of the initiatives it has launched.

Academic career and research contributions

Julia Tjus is not only a leading scientist at Chalmers University, but also a professor in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at Ruhr University. Her academic career includes a doctorate in 2007 at the Technical University of Dortmund. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Gothenburg, she moved to the Ruhr University, where she took on a junior professorship in high-energy particle astrophysics. Since 2013 she has headed the Chair of Theoretical Physics with a special focus on plasma astroparticle physics.

In addition to her chair, she has been director of the Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics Center (RAPP Center) since 2015 and has held the spokesperson position for the Collaborative Research Center 1491 since 2022. Their work aims to decipher complex astrophysical phenomena and contributes significantly to the progress in research on neutrinos and their properties.

The Brera Astronomical Observatory

An important part of the international astronomical community is the Brera Astronomical Observatory in Milan, Italy. It was built in 1764 and is considered one of the oldest and most important observatories in Europe. Originally founded by Jesuit astronomer Roger Boscovich, it has had a fascinating history over the years.

The observatory conducts extensive research in various areas of astronomy, including planets, black holes and cosmology. It has become a world leader in the development of X-ray astronomy optics and light-based instruments for space missions. It also houses a valuable collection of astronomical instruments used over the centuries, as well as important historical objects collected by Giovanni Schiaparelli and other directors.

The Planetarium Berlin Foundation

Another important center for astronomy is the Planetarium Berlin Foundation, which was founded on July 1, 2016. This institution brings together several astronomical facilities in Berlin, including the Archenhold Observatory and the Zeiss Large Planetarium. These institutions not only offer innovative educational opportunities, but are also a central part of the culture in the German capital.

By linking and professionalizing its programs, the Foundation enables the study of astronomy in a broader scientific context and contributes to expanding knowledge about our place in the universe.