Uschi Steigenberger receives prestigious British medal for her service to the sciences

World-reknowned physicist Dr. Uschi Steigenberger has been honoured with one of the highest decorations in Great Britain for her services to the sciences. She was awarded the Officer of the British Empire (OBE) medal by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Mr. Jo Johnson. Uschi Steigenberger has also chaired the Scientific Advisory Council of the HZB for many years.

“We warmly congratulate Uschi Steigenberger for this distinguished honour and thank her for her dedication, commitment, and support during her time as chairperson of the SAC at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. She has been a visionary and highly regarded partner who advised us very constructively during the further development of the HZB 2020+ strategy and in implementing pioneering projects”, says Scientific Director of the HZB, Prof. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla.

Uschi Steigenberger came from the Institute Laue Langevin in Grenoble to England, where she was initially in charge of an instrument at the ISIS neutron source in 1986. She took on increasing responsibility and was Acting Director of ISIS until 2012. Though she has formally been in retirement for several years, she has continued her involvement on behalf of international neutron research, advised and encouraged junior scientists, and been engaged in support of women in the natural sciences. In addition, she was active on numerous panels and committees in addition to the Scientific Advisory Council of the HZB, which she recently retired from for personal reasons.