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 th ...

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

. She also maintains affiliations with Solar and Stellar Activity Research Team at

Konkoly Observatory Konkoly Observatory (; obs. code: 053) is an astronomical observatory located in Budapest, Hungary is part of the Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences () and belongs to thHUN-REN Magyar Kutatási Hálózat Konkoly Observato ...

of the

Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Hungarian Academy of Sciences ( , MTA) is Hungary’s foremost and most prestigious learned society. Its headquarters are located along the banks of the Danube in Budapest, between Széchenyi rakpart and Akadémia utca. The Academy's primar ...

and the Space Research Laboratory (LESIA) of

Paris Observatory The Paris Observatory (, ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centres in the world. Its historic building is on the Left Ban ...

. 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 The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...

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 Charles University (CUNI; , UK; ; ), or historically as the University of Prague (), is the largest university in the Czech Republic. It is one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest universities in the world in conti ...

, 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 Utrecht University (UU; , formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2023, it had an enrollment of 39,769 students, a ...

and in 1992 of the ISAS &

Kiso Observatory Kiso Observatory (: 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 express objective of study ...

Tokyo University The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...

. In 1994 she also began a guest appointment at the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (which she maintains to this day), and was appointed a senior scientific fellow of

, Hungary. In 2000 she joined the

and in 2001

KU Leuven KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest university in Belgium and the oldest university in the Low Countries. In addition to its mai ...

, 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 In solar physics and observation, an active region is a temporary feature 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 a ...

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 The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is a learned society and charitable organisation, charity that encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, planetary science, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. Its ...

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

2009–2012 President of Commission 10 (Solar Activity) of the

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