A Cardiff University researcher, instrumental in the first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, has been honored by the Royal Society for his exceptional contributions to physics. Professor Bernard Schutz, FRS FLSW, of the School of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded the 2025 Rumford Medal. This accolade, established in 1800, has been bestowed upon just over 100 recipients, recognizing Schutz’s extensive work in relativistic astrophysics, gravitational radiation detection, and education. Along with the medal, he receives a gift of £2,000.
“The award was a complete surprise to me, and humbling, in view of its long history and many distinguished recipients,” said Professor Schutz. “I hope that the award will further raise the visibility of gravitational wave research and thereby inspire more young scientists to join the research teams of my colleagues at Cardiff University, at the Albert Einstein Institute, and at collaborating institutions around the world.”
A Legacy in Astrophysics
Now an Emeritus Professor, Schutz’s career at Cardiff University spans over five decades. Born in the USA, he completed his undergraduate studies in physics at Clarkson College of Technology and earned his PhD at the California Institute of Technology under the mentorship of Kip Thorne. Thorne, who later shared the 2017 Nobel Prize for the first discovery of gravitational waves, played a pivotal role in shaping Schutz’s career.
After a postdoctoral stint with Stephen Hawking’s group at Cambridge University and further research at Yale, Schutz joined Cardiff University in 1974. His early research focused on general-relativistic stellar pulsation, stability, and the orbital dynamics of binary stars and black holes. In the 1980s, he collaborated with Glasgow and German gravitational wave detection groups, pioneering data analysis methods still in use today.
“An early outcome was my 1986 discovery of how to infer the distance to a binary system from its gravitational wave signal, a rare circumstance in astronomy that has become fundamental to the interpretation of gravitational wave signals, and which offers a new way of measuring the expansion rate and age of the Universe.” — Professor Bernard Schutz
International Impact and Recognition
In 1995, Schutz moved to Potsdam, Germany, to help establish the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), which has grown to be the largest institute dedicated to relativity worldwide. While maintaining a part-time position at Cardiff, his division focused on numerical solutions to Einstein’s equations and gravitational-wave data analysis.
“Having the opportunity to shape the development of the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany was wonderful,” Schutz remarked. “I’m deeply grateful to the Max Planck Society for its confidence in me. And, of course, being part of the team that made the first detection in 2015 was the fulfilment of decades of hard work – immense satisfaction!”
Schutz’s contributions to gravitational wave research have also been recognized through his election to the Royal Society, the Learned Society of Wales, and the US National Academy of Sciences.
Celebrating Scientific Excellence
The Rumford Medal is one of 27 awards announced by the Royal Society this year, celebrating outstanding contributions to scientific discovery, public engagement, and research culture. Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, emphasized the significance of these awards.
“The recipients of this year’s medals and awards have all made outstanding contributions to science and its applications for the benefit of humanity. They have done so by furthering our understanding of the processes that govern the world around us, changing the practices of academia to build a more robust and inclusive research environment, and engaging new audiences. Celebrating these diverse contributions is core to the Society’s mission and I offer my congratulations to all the 2025 recipients.” — Sir Adrian Smith
The recognition of Professor Schutz’s work highlights the pivotal role of gravitational wave research in advancing our understanding of the universe. As the field continues to evolve, the contributions of scientists like Schutz will inspire future generations to explore the cosmos and unravel its mysteries.
